Covenant Commission

Christian Expectations is a series of articles from Covenant Commission dealing with the implications of the Covenant of Grace. Due to Dispensationalism's faulty worldview, many Christians only expect defeat in this life. Whether it is personal victory over the tyranny of sin or institutional victory, modern American Christians have little hope. In the Introduction to the series, Devin Maddox explains the issues and what is at stake. In Part One, Resurrection: The True Hope of the Saints, Devin sets forth the Biblical expectations of Christians after death. Many American Christians are hoping in an abdicating rapture to steal them away from the failure of the Church. However, our hope is in the power of the Gospel, which will ultimately defeat every enemy of Christ. Death is the last enemy that will be defeated making resurrection our hope, not escape. In Part Two, The Dominion of Christ, Pastor James Brown Jr explains this victory will also be measured in the complete fulfillment of Christ's dominion over every nation. In Part Three, and the final article in this series, Devin concludes with how the Church will be victorious over darkness.

In our final article, we will conclude Christian Expectations with the defeat of darkness. The promise of Scripture is a reconciled world and all the kingdoms of the earth becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. Yet, how does this defeat of darkness take place? How will God's glory be realized in power and judgment on the earth?

Dispensationalism has the Church fleeing in defeat and in time Christ destroying the world. This doesn't sound like hope, reconciliation, restoration, inheriting the earth, or the promises fulfilled in Christ. Is the Gospel a message of doom or the defeat of darkness?

"Stand therefore, and your loins girded about with verity, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Above all, take the shield of Faith, wherewith ye may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." -Ephesians 6:14-17 (1599 Geneva Bible)

There is a fight we are required to engage in and there is no loss in history with God. All of scripture testifies to victory in Christ. At no time is God out of control of history. Christ defeated darkness and reconciled the world through His redemptive work. (Luke 1: 32-33; Acts 2:30-36).

God glorified is the chief end of man (1 Corinthians 10:31). Therefore, the glorifying of God in the church, home, and state are the right goals for Christianity. Moreover, when God does finalize "His-story" and bring upon the destruction of the wicked He will be glorified in his unmovable justice.

Current defeatism:

Let us be reminded of the pessimism of the Hebrews in Egypt. They were not upper class citizens, but laborers of bondage. When they heard that Moses was sent from God, they worshipped, but when they did not see immediate positive results, they murmured. After God delivered them by a mighty hand, they were comforted, however, as soon as they were stopped at the Red Sea they complained. The testimony of the LORD tells us this was a "stiff-necked" people. It reminds me of our American Christians and how the pattern continues today.

In Joshua chapter 7, Achan disobeys God, yet the children of Israel still expected victory over the small city of Ai. The Israelite army was soundly defeated as they retreated in shame. Likewise, modern Christians expect their prayers answered while disobeying God's commands. Most do not desire real obedience to God, but all want deliverance! It's like the common saying, "everyone wants to go to heaven when they die, but no one wants to die to get there."

We modern Christians are great at pointing to the sins of others. But what are we doing to turn the world upside down? What example is being set? What solutions? It's not enough to point out problems as they arise. Since we have the righteous, everlasting revelation of God, we should know how to correct society's problems. (Ps. 119:137-144)

It is true; some believe that Christians are to be a simple witness to the institutions of the world and not a manager of them. These are the conscientious objectors to institutional reformation, in other words, the idea of a set of parameters set forth by God of how a nation is to function, is without merit to many Christians of our day.

One might ask, "What does that have to do with Christian Expectations?"

Obviously, the worldviews of our society effect the actions and lives of the people. Our actions, when culminated, will beckon either the judgment of God or the blessings of His promises (Deuteronomy 28). God works through His people to grow His kingdom throughout the earth. However, God will also chasten his people if they corrupt His kingdom.

To retain the opinion that we are only verbal witnesses to the institutions of society is not complete obedience to the calling of God. To imagine giving up on politics, the justice system, or any other aspect of society is to allow those institutions to come into the hand of God's enemies. Historically, Christian martyrs died for living the truth, not just speaking it. It's the greater implications of living as a Christian that the world hates.

While American Christians pass off cultural responsibilities, the buck stops with those willing to shape the future. It so happens that those that have been most willing are the liberal humanists. In fact, during the past one hundred years, liberals have accomplished their socialist goals for the home, church, and state. Their accomplishments have surpassed the current Pro-life, States' Rights, or TEA Party movements combined.

Kenneth Gentry stated it this way:

"Christians, we must train our children and those who are converted to Christ through our evangelism to dig in for the long haul. It is in this century we have seen what secularists call 'the triumph of humanism.' It is also in this century that we have seen the triumph of the dispensationalist imminency doctrine, that has effectively removed an earlier widespread Christian cultural endeavor. Too many Christians have withdrawn from culture to await Christ's any moment appearing. I think the triumph of dispensationalism is partly related to the triumph of humanism.

"The task before us is enormous. But the equipment is sufficient: The One with all authority is with us. He has given us all the days. And He promises us: 'I will be with you.' In the Greek this statement has great emphasis: 'I, I will be with you.' We may confidently expect success in the long run. Christ, Christ is with us. The Old Testament prophets, the New Testament Apostles, and the Lord of glory all look to glorious days in earth's future in which all nations 'from the river to the ends of the earth' will come and bow down before Him. And He uses His people to get the task accomplished under His administration."¹

In Defeat of Darkness, we will briefly consider:

1. God's Just Sovereignty
2. Covenant Community
3. Judgment Day
4. Perpetual Glory

God's Just Sovereignty

Before entering the topic of Covenant Community, I think it important to touch on the foundational reality of God's sovereignty. Especially, since nothing can be understood of doctrine, history, or future things without an understanding of this foundation. However, this is not an exhaustive study but a brief look at the subject. In addition, it seems important to defend God's just sovereignty in the salvation, reprobation, and continued providential work in men's lives for a moment.

God is a just ruler of His people

"Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods! Who is like thee so glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders!" -Exodus 15:11 (1599 Geneva Bible)

"There is none like God, O righteous people, which rideth upon the heavens for thine help, and on the clouds in his glory. The eternal God is thy refuge, and under his arms art thou forever..."-Deuteronomy 33:26-27 (1599 Geneva Bible)

"The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." -Psalm 145:17 (1599 Geneva Bible)

We know that God is Judge and that he will not acquit the wicked. His justice is always at work as men reap what they sow, but God is not right simply because he has the might. God is right, just, and holy because His own character is the standard. There is none like the LORD.

The Lord has expressed his standards for man through the Law. His law, when obeyed, promises blessings for society. However, outside the work of the Spirit in regeneration, true obedience is never accomplished. A people must have faith and understanding on a large scale to become the ideal city on a hill.

"...Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt...Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day." -Deuteronomy 29:1-4 (1599 Geneva Bible)

Though God had delivered the children of Israel and rehearsed his absolute standards, we see in Deuteronomy 29:4 that he had not given them "a heart to perceive". Dr. John Gill comments, "so the understanding heart, the seeing eye, and hearing ear, in things spiritual, are from the Lord, are special gifts of his grace, which he bestows on some, and not on others."²

The progression of God's dealings with Israel reveals how God continued to expose their sin and weakness of the flesh. God has proven man's depravity by letting man continue in his natural fallen state until he is completely cursed and found in bondage. God has shown that redemption of individuals and the restoration of the world are entirely by His sovereign grace.

Remember, there are still circumstances where God chastens those he loves after grace is evident. We know that disobedience brings the judgment of God, yet that judgment has always had the purpose of leading his people to repentance.

"If my people, among whom my Name is called upon, do humble themselves, and pray and seek my presence, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear in heaven and be merciful to their sin, and will heal their land." -2 Chronicles 7:14 (1599 Geneva Bible)

Therefore, we must conclude that God, our righteous Father, will have us to walk as children of light, obeying his laws, and beckoning blessings. In that type of repentance, humiliation, and attention toward God, we can expect a people to become a city on a hill, a haven of light, whose builder and maker is God. Moreover, we also must remember that our leaders, whether ecclesiastical or civil, must only be followed as they follow the Lord (Joshua 1:17).

God's Sovereign Salvation: Election

"Election: The act of choosing; choice; the act of selecting one or more from others."³

"Elect: In theology, chosen as the object of mercy; chosen, selected or designated to eternal life; predestinated in the divine counsels."⁴

"Blessed be God, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which hath blessed us, with all spiritual blessing in heavenly things in Christ, As he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love: Who hath predestinated us, to be adopted through Jesus Christ in himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. To the praise of the glory of his grace..." -Ephesians 1:3-6 (King James Version)

There are several questions we should ask to properly understand God's sovereign election:

1. Who is choosing?
2. When is the choice made?
3. Who are the chosen?
4. What is the effect of predestination?

Who is choosing?

"God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ", is the one described blessing, choosing, and predestinating. God is the active elector who alone has the right to choose. God is eternal, all-powerful, and all knowing. All of his creation, including mankind, falls under his terms and conditions.

"In order to understand how God regards His relations with man, it is first necessary to understand the terms of man's existence. The Bible therefore begins with an account of how God created man and how he defined him. As the Creator, God determined how He would relate and interact with His Creation. Man is incapable of dictating the terms of his own existence or overriding the expressed Will of his Superior. To do so would represent a futile attempt to usurp the order of Creation, as if placing man above God. Man's finite will is therefore always inferior, and he must submit to God's infinite supremacy in every engagement."⁵

It is crucial that we understand man to be finite and God to be infinite. The infinite God has the authority and means to choose whosoever He will. More specifically, The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost gracefully covenanted together for man's redemption apart from any outside entity.

When is the choice made?

The elect in Christ were chosen before the world was framed. To put this in a time frame would be impossible for us to understand. The choice was truly pre-historic as far as man's existence is concerned.

The text plainly states, "...before the foundation of the world." The Geneva notes describe it in this way, "...he chose us from everlasting in his Son."⁶ God does not change his mind like man does. His decrees are always the same and what he determines to come to pass will come to pass.

Commenting on this election, Dr. John Gill stated that,"...no new will, or act of will, can arise in God, or any decree be made by him, which was not from eternity: God's foreknowledge is eternal, and so is his decree, and is no other than himself decreeing."⁷

Who are the chosen?

In the most specific way, Paul is referring to himself, the saints at Ephesus, and "the faithful in Christ Jesus" as the chosen ones. Another word for "chosen" is "elect". In theology, "the elect" are the saints chosen in Christ by the grace of God from eternity. When Peter wrote his first epistle to a number of dispersed Christians he referred to them as, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God..."

Many modern Christians reduce election to the Old Testament Jews only. However, the Bible speaks of the elect in terms of those that have been foreknown by God, sanctified by the Spirit, and reconciled by the blood of Christ. (1st Peter 1:2) Furthermore, all those in the household of faith are considered Abraham's seed. (Gal. 3:7-9) The promise of redemption that the elect are partakers of does not end with Old Testament Jews, but continues to many who are considered Gentiles. Therefore, the elect can be many from every tribe, tongue, or nation (Matthew 28:19-20).

What is the effect of predestination?

First, the text states, "that we should be holy and without blame before him in love". So the effect of this predestined election is the sanctification of the Spirit and conformity to the image of Christ, who is holy and without sin. The saints are justified by the righteousness of Christ and enabled by the Spirit to walk after Christ, who is the author and finisher of their faith.

The Geneva commentators made it clear, "God did not choose us, because we were, or otherwise should have been holy, but to the end we should be holy."⁸ The justification by Christ and the sanctification by the Spirit display the love of God in electing a people to Himself. The elect are admonished to live to the glory of God in all things because he first loved us.

Second, the glory of God's grace should be praised. God's love to the world, the covenant of grace, the work of redemption, and continued sanctifying of his people show forth the highest glory of his grace. When all men deserve death it is a great miracle of mercy that many receive life. Though man is fallen and under the curse, many are adopted through Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Praise the Lord!

Lastly, it should be emphasized, that God's sovereign election has been accomplished, "according to the good pleasure of his will". Paul stated in Romans 9:16, "So then it is not in him that willeth, nor in him that runneth, but in God that showeth mercy." Salvation is of the Lord. It is all in his sovereignty and it is his will that matters most. He is the potter and we are the clay. So how does God justly deal with those who are not, "the called according to His purpose"? (Rom. 8:28)

God's Sovereign Salvation: A Look at Reprobation

"The will of God is the rule of all righteousness, neither knoweth he any other way by which he governeth and ordereth any of his actions. Whatsoever God doth, it is good because he doth it; whether it be to give grace, or to detain it; whether in choosing or refusing. The consideration of this, made the holy men of old ascribe righteousness to their Maker, even then when yet they could not see the reason of his actions. They would rather stand amazed, and wonder at the heights and depths of his unsearchable judgments, than quarrel at the strange and most obscure of them (Job 34:10-12, 36:3, 37:23; Jer. 12:1; Rom. 11:33)."⁹

God is perfect in every way. While many see the attributes of love as the highest, it is not always so in every circumstance. You see, children appreciate love from their parents, spouses appreciate love for each other, and of course, everyone likes to ponder the gracious love of God.

In spite of this, God is not only attributed with love. Love is not the only quality or act that exists. Love is great! I love "love", but God is also just. God is vigilant, exercising judgment and righteousness in His created order and He will not acquit the wicked (Nah. 1:3). Would a loving God be unjust? Of course not, but many use the word, "love" (which can be used broadly) in ways out of context to the Scripture.

The love of God is great because His wrath has been satisfied. The wrath against our sin fell on Christ, the Lamb of God. Our sins were imputed to Christ Himself and he granted us His righteousness. This love, then, is understood to be measureless.

To show his power and the glory of His justice, He has not predestined every person that has ever been born into depravity. While he does save many (Genesis 22:17; Galatians 3:7), He also has created a place of separation and torment for the damnation of those depraved sinners who never come to repentance and faith in Christ.

While I admit it is unpleasant to dwell on the idea of a person afflicted in torments, we have to consider also our own strong desires to see judgment come to pass. It's part of our inexcusable conscience to long for justice. Thankfully, we can trust the perfect wisdom of God to execute righteous judgment, instead of trusting our own heart, which is desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9).

"...It is not indeed, then, because men are sinners that men are left unelected; election is free, and its obverse of rejection must be equally free; but it is solely because men are sinners that what they are left to is destruction. And it is in this universalism of ruin rather than in a universalism of salvation that St. Paul really roots his theodicy. When all deserve death it is a marvel of pure grace that any receive life; and who shall gainsay the right of Him who shows this miraculous mercy, to have mercy on whom He will, and whom He will to harden?"¹⁰

There is an apparent connection with Arminian doctrine and dispensationalism. Not only because someone that holds to the former is usually the latter, but because they both have the same fundamental problem of limiting God's sovereignty. Dispensationalism centers God's sovereign election solely within a Jewish centrality and not with many out of every tribe, tongue, and nation. According to dispensationalism, a nation's blessing comes from their treatment of the Jews. Consequently, dispensational Arminianism leaves salvation of the un-elected Gentile in the provision of individual cooperation with God.

"Those who conceive of mankind as innocent and deserving of salvation are naturally scandalized when any portion of the race is antecedently consigned to punishment. But when the doctrine of Original Sin, which is taught so clearly and repeatedly in the Scriptures, is seen in its proper setting, the objections to predestination disappear and the condemnation of the wicked seems only just and natural."¹¹

"Say not, therefore, as the opposers of these doctrines did in St. Paul's days: 'Why doth God find fault with the wicked? for who hath resisted His will? If He, who only can convert them, refrains from doing it, what room is there for blaming them that perish, seeing it is impossible to resist the will of the Almighty?' Be satisfied with St. Paul's answer, 'Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?' The apostle hinges the whole matter entirely on God's absolute sovereignty. There he rests it, and there we ought to leave it."¹²

With that, I will conclude this brief look at the sovereignty of God in salvation. It is primarily because Calvinists are attacked for this issue, as well as it's foundational importance, that I included it in the body of Christian Expectations. We must see that God is over everything. While we do have the responsibilities of keeping God's commands, still yet we must apprehend these responsibilities in the light of God's sovereign work. More specifically, we must see our responsibility in the all compassing view of His Covenant of Grace.

Covenant Community

God Ruled Society

One could spend lengthy time in discussing the institutions of the home, church, and state. In this part of the series, however, we will focus on one of those institutions, the civil government. We will also use space to cover an aspect very closely related, community. These realms seem forsaken by Christians in America, though most long to see reformation of government and seek out various forms of community. The problem is that reform is often limited to prayer and community is limited to modern networking.

First, we need to declare the proper way of kingdom expansion. The kingdom of God expands through covenantal obedience.

"Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded..." -Matthew 28:19-20

"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." -Psalm 19:7

The commission is not conversion by the sword. We do not threaten beheadings or some violent form of coercion to exact repentance. We teach, preach, and live in Christ through His teachings, as He is our Prophet, Priest, and King. We are to be the witnesses of truth and the city on a hill. We engage the culture with good works in every aspect of life and we evangelize with the Word of truth.

While the early church was growing under the tyrannical government of Rome, the implications of having a King other than Caesar brought many persecutions to the saints. If Christ is King, his title surely promotes the idea of a kingdom reign that is in opposition to any other. Though eventually Christianity was legalized as a religion, the implications of, "Christ the King" was not again exemplified until much later in history. As it had been with the apostles, the Great Reformation turned the world upside down. During this time and the century after, the results of "Christ the King" helped to establish Christian government and ultimately spawned the birth of America.

Civil Government

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people sigh." -Proverbs 29:2 (1599 Geneva Bible)

"To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." -Proverbs 21:3 (1599 Geneva Bible)

Christian nations have the power of the sword to maintain God's law and order. This obedience to God's law/order keeps wicked acts among the people minimized, is a display of the "schoolmaster" that exposes our depravity, and ultimately brings blessings from God upon society when kept.

"Righteousness in the New Testament is portrayed as having absolutely no fellowship with lawlessness (the Greek word for 'iniquity', 2 Cor. 6:14). To love righteousness is precisely to hate all lawlessness (Heb. 1:9) God's law cannot be discarded or despised by those who would practice the righteousness of God's kingdom according to the New Testament understanding of ethics."¹³

One of the things I love about God's law is due process. Yes, God warned the children of Israel to put evil away from among them; however, this was not a race to the stone pile. Though there are crimes punishable by death, these capital judgments were to be carried out by God's people under His direction, authority, and process.

"But, some have argued, how can the Bible logically ask us to impose death as a penalty when it also forbids us to kill? The answer is a simple one. The right to kill does not belong to man; it belongs to God as the author of life. Life can be taken, capital punishment imposed, only according to the law of God and under commission from Him...Just as the church represents a ministry of the word and of the sacraments, and of church discipline, so the state or civil government represents a ministry, the ministry of justice, the administration of law and order under God."¹⁴

The corruption of due process and the lack of absolute standards are some of the worst aspects of the modern legal system. Depending on what judge one criminal may get compared to another, the sentence is likely to be drastically different. Moreover, depending on the level of innovation by a defense lawyer, one criminal may get life, while another gets off with minimal probation though the same type of crime was committed.

When we reflect on the quotes from Proverbs, we cannot deny the importance of the righteous bearing rule and proper justice for the people. God is pleased when the people obey and the people are pleased when obedient magistrates are ruling.

If modern day Christians are going to have hope (confident expectation) for a reclaimed culture, society, and nation, we are going to have to find our way back into the realms of civil responsibility. We're going to have to grow into developed Christian law keepers and promote the righteous standards of God.

"The point is this: all law is enacted morality and presupposes a moral system, a moral law, and all morality presupposes a religion as its foundation. Law rests on morality, and morality on religion. Whenever and wherever you weaken the religious foundations of a country or people, you then weaken the morality also and you take away the foundations of its law. The result is the progressive collapse of law and order, and the breakdown of society."¹⁵

Unfortunately, most Christians in America are "rapture ready" having abrogated our civil duties. While most are waiting for their free ride out of hell on earth, the Devil's crowd is filling up the vacancies in the house of representatives.

"Mine eyes have failed in waiting for thy salvation, and for thy just promise. Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. I am thy servant: grant me therefore understanding, that I may know thy testimonies. It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have destroyed thy law. Therefore, love I thy commandments above gold, yea, above most fine gold. Therefore, I esteem all thy precepts most just, and hate all false ways." -Psalm 119:123-128

We are to reflect upon, testify to, and exalt God's justice, judgment, and standard of law. Through these means, the saints will defeat the darkness of society by the power of God. It is the aspect of "a city on a hill" and not an individual on a hill, or a get-saved-quick scheme proclaimed from a hill, but a city of light upon a hill. This is the practicality of an institutional witness and dominion under Christ as he increasingly becomes our God and we become his people.

Community

"What shall we say of community? It has, for the most part, disappeared. The town, or even neighborhood, once provided this, and a person's private and public worlds overlapped. Today they do not. Then, people were known by others in both their worlds, both in their circle of friends and by those with whom they worked. Today these worlds are divided. We are known in the work world by those we work with and in our private world by those we associate with, such as friends and family. Two different worlds often coexist side by side in people's lives, the values and beliefs of the public world and those of their private world."¹⁶

This has been a recurring observation by many who can still remember the good ole' days and yet, still see the large drift that has come between neighbors, customers, store owners, the local doctor, and even the barber. Speaking of barbers, have they become extinct? The days of a barber cutting the same loyal customer's hair for twenty years are pretty much a dream gone by. However, simply restoring some of these small town characteristics is not a solution. A community of saints worshipping the same God, reading the same Scriptures, raising their children for the glory of God, and who have the same standard of right and wrong is the solution.

While it is a popular concept, the idea of the masses all flowing into a conglomeration of diversity is utopian. Orthodox Christianity and humanism are diametrically opposed. Humanism's choice of community lies within the socialist ideals of Marx and Lenin. The agenda of socialism is to replace Christian society, rather than coexist within it. Any ground gained in this direction by the humanists is deliberately destructive to Christian values.

It is important to realize that everyone longs for community. Whenever one community disappears, another takes its place, and the vacuum is filled. Even the wicked desire community, just look at San Francisco for the modern day Sodom and you will see there is community, though it is a rebellious one.

My point is that I see the wicked gathering together in their communities, but it seems the saints, at least in this modern time, are scattered abroad like a flock that's been driven by wolves.

"That I say, which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye may also have fellowship with us, and that our fellowship also may be with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." -1 John 1: 3 (1599 Geneva Bible)

Notice that Christian fellowship is not only an individual's personal fellowship with God, but it includes the fellowship of the redeemed household of God. Due to our individualistic attitudes, we modern Americans think only in terms of ourselves and not much of our community; whether it's our town, church, or neighbors.

David expresses the blessing of a faithful community in Psalm 133:1, "BEHOLD, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

The word, "dwell" has a more permanent understanding than a visit does. We are given a proclamation of how good and pleasant it is to abide together, continue together, and to live together in unity.

Christian unity is essential, not only through internet social networks but also in real community. As a city on a hill, Christian community radiates the light of Christ to the world. In what city are God's people shining as the light of the sun? We can point to cities of known debauchery, such as New Orleans, but where can we appropriately say, "There's a Christian city?"

No, there are no profoundly recognizable Christian cities, therefore the dispensationalist might be thinking, "Its cause we're in the last days", however it has nothing to do with "last days" that have already been fulfilled, but all to do with God's people abrogating their responsibilities. Deuteronomy 28 reveals an obedient society will receive praise, protection, prosperity, and power. God gives the land (cities, towns, farms, markets) into his people's hands when they are actively obedient to his commands.

So not only is there a great need for Christian communities, but there is a great need for obedient ones as well. The lack of them does not prove some "last days" retreat from doom, but the unwillingness of modern American Christians to re-build the walls of community.

Organizing small communities within a larger community has been a tactic of aggressive communists in our country for the past century. Having created strongholds, they branched out filling up the many facets of community service including, librarians, politicians, lawyers, judges, teachers, union leaders, news reporters, clergy and even President of the United States. It is high time we reversed this trend and took back our communities!

Think of the onslaught of socialism and humanism one person encounters in their lifetime experience as an American. The teacher tells them they evolved from animals and lectures with revisionist history. The preacher proclaims that all we need is love and insists we are all "children of God." The Governor grants subsidies to certain people that do not work for a living, but is willing bank on their vote. The reporter regurgitates the same propaganda repeatedly. How anyone comes to the truth can only be by the grace of God!

My hope is that repentance and reformation will sweep through our people and bring us back on track. If not, we have a lot of reaping to do. The curses will be upon us, our children, and God will bring deliverance at another time, another place, and possibly with another people.

"Now when Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth, and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a great cry...Also he gave him the copy of the writing and commission that was given at Shushan, to destroy them, that he might show it unto Esther and declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go into the king, and make petition and supplication before him for her people...Then Esther said...I have not been called to come unto the king...And Mordecai said...Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou holdest thy peace at this time, comfort and deliverance shall appear to the Jews out of another place, but thou and thy father's house shall perish: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time?" -Esther 4:1,8,10,11,13-14

Judgment Day

Sometimes Christians see the wicked prosper, or they see the righteous bearing burdens, and they question God's judgment. However, there is ample proof in the Scripture and in history that God will have His way. God will not acquit the guilty, nor will justice remain silent. In Psalm 73, the psalmist proclaims, "...I fretted at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked...they are not in trouble as other men...they have more than heart can wish." But this was not his conclusion of them, just the current state of the times in which he lived. He goes on in the same chapter, "Then I understood their end...Surely thou hast set them in slippery places, and castest them down into desolation. How suddenly are they destroyed, perished and horribly consumed..."

Therefore it is at present, that many look to the rise of the wicked and forget the judgment of God. It is possible this forgetfulness is partly due to the lack of preaching of God's righteous judgment. Nevertheless, the psalmist declared, "...when thou raisest us up, thou shalt make their image despised" (Psalm 73:20).

Instead of preaching the righteousness of Christ and giving the call to repentance, most evangelicals today are practicing an easy-believism scheme to get people saved. What this effectively leaves out is man's duty to obey God in all of life. The fear of God, the expectation of his judgments, and the understanding of his holiness is abandoned. Therefore, dispensationalist's rapture becomes the focal point instead of the resurrection; going to heaven is the theme, instead of living godly in this life. However, Christians in the 1600's knew the importance of God's righteous judgment.

"God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ; to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father; in which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon the earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil. (Acts 17:31; John 5:22, 27; 1 Corinthians 6:3; Jude 6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:10, 12; Matthew 25:32-46)"¹⁷

Jude mentions certain people in his epistle, who,"...are raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shames: they are wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever." (Jude 1:13) The shame foaming out of men is the ungodly deeds they have committed (Jude1:15). They are ultimately presuming upon God's grace and using their position in life to promote things contrary to godly living.

We have a lot of that today. Groups are organized together for the promotion of some agenda that falls outside of God's standard. Some of these groups are homosexual, some pornographic, some environmental, some evolutionary, and some revolutionary (communist). The level of man's depravity (total) has not changed since the fall, but the ways in which we categorize them has. In the past, communists were lawless, homosexuals were fornicators, and environmentalists ("mother earth" worship) were idolaters. The sins are the same, but the terms have changed.

Ultimately, all evils of vain philosophy (humanism), false worship (creation rather than creator), lawlessness (anarchy/communism), and ungodly lusts (fornication) will be put away forever. Jude called upon the church to watch for all these evils and those that perpetuate them. The admonition is to continue in the faith, and consider the end of the enemies of Christ.

"The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the eternal damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient; for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and glory with everlasting rewards, in the presence of the Lord; but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast aside into everlasting torments, and punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. (Romans 9:22, 23; Matthew 25:21, 34; 2 Timothy 4:8; Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 )"¹⁸

The result of judgment is the glory of God. His mercy receives glory in the election of sinners to faith in Christ, who is the only Prophet, Priest, and King by whom salvation is come. His justice receives glory because He will judge all those who have continued without faith, living in their sins, and are disobedient to the call of righteousness. The judgment of God also displays his covenantal faithfulness. The redemption of His people fulfills the promises of the covenant of grace. In addition, the promises of death are fulfilled when man tries to keep a covenant of works to gain his own standing before God. By looking into the aspects of God's judgment day, we should see that he is completely faithful to his promises as they relate to the covenants. God has always kept covenant, fulfilled His promises, and carried out His will.

Conclusion: God's Perpetual Glory

We started this series with Resurrection: The True Hope of the Saints, in contrast to the dispensational hope of rapture before tribulation. In that article, we covered timeline indicators of the resurrection, as well as, a comparison of the "last days" terminology found in scripture. I wanted to point out some erroneous beliefs of the dispensational system and also show, "...a more orthodox view of the resurrection is that Christ returns at the 'end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power...' (1st Cor. 15:24)."

The purpose of our second article was to restore the proper expectation of Christ's dominion on earth. Covenant Commission's director James Brown Jr. pointed out that, "Christ had and still has a victorious plan for His Church. Contrary to Dispensationalism, this victory is not camouflaged in a broken clock of disappointment and escape. Instead, Christ's Kingdom begins small like a mustard seed but eventually becomes mighty in taking dominion over the world."

James covered several topics in The Dominion of Christ, including God's sovereignty, the revelation of the covenant of grace, the fulfilled work of Christ, and even Christ's progressive restoration of the world:

"Many confuse the finished work of Christ and the realization of His work being manifested on earth. All that is necessary to fulfill our redemption and the restitution of the world is complete. However, it does not mean we see these things realized on earth. Just as all the redeemed have not yet believed; neither has the kingdoms of this world submitted to the reign of Christ."

Finally, we have concluded our series with The Defeat of Darkness. Every enemy will be defeated, even death (1 Corinthians 15:26), but modern Christians have lost hope that victory will be won outside of a rapture escape. We can have success, dominion, and victory in this world, but it is going to take faith in the finished work of Christ and his continuing reign at the right hand of power.

If modern Christians fail to confront the culture, fail to raise children according to biblical standards, fail to plan and take dominion of every facet of life, then who is going to fill those voids? We must understand that how we live is based on what we believe, and if what we believe is defeat, then how can we live victoriously?

"Oh Lord what shall I say, when Israel turn their backs before their enemies?" -Joshua 7:8 (1599 Geneva Bible)

"Then I beheld, and rose up, and said unto the princes, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not afraid of them: remember the great Lord, and fearful, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. And when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, then God brought their counsel to naught, and we turned all again to the wall, every one unto his work." -Nehemiah 4:14-15 (1599 Geneva Bible)

Christian expectations are just that, Christian. The enemies of God are not expecting these things nor are they looking forward to the glory of God revealed through all eternity. Moreover, the enemies of our King are not working for the type of homes, government, and church institutions that we are. They are on a different course, unless God miraculously changes their path. Therefore, Christians need to realize it is not expedient to look to the corrupt world for signs of progress. We look to Christ alone, the author and finisher of our faith.

The ultimate expectation of a Christian is God glorified past, present, and perpetually. God receives glory in our regeneration, sanctification, hope, perseverance, and ultimate victory in history. God will restore the fallen world. He will defeat the darkness to shine greater light and there will be no end to his glorious kingdom. "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen."

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References

1. Kenneth L. Gentry Jr., The Four Alls of the Great Commission, (accessed 23 May 2011)

2. John Gill D.D., Exposition of the Old and New Testament Vol. 2 (Paris, Arkansas: The Baptist Standard Bearer, Reprinted 2006) p.131

3. Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language (San Francisco, CA: Foundation for American Christian Education, May, 2002) Vol. I. 70

4. Ibid.

5. Daniel J. Ford, In The Name of God, Amen (St. Louis, Missouri: Lex Rex Publishing, L.L.C., 2003) p.12

6. Geneva note on Eph. 1:4, The 1599 Geneva Bible Patriot's Edition (White Hall, W.V., Tolle Lege Press; White Hall Press, 2010) pg. 1215

7. John Gill D.D., Exposition of the Old and New Testament Vol. 9 (Paris, Arkansas: The Baptist Standard Bearer, Reprinted 2006) p.61

8. Geneva note on Eph. 1:4, The 1599 Geneva Bible Patriot's Edition (White Hall, W.V., Tolle Lege Press; White Hall Press, 2010) pg. 1215

9. John Bunyan, Reprobation Asserted, < http://www.reformedreader.org/rbb/bunyan/reprobation/toc.htm> (accessed 23 May 2011)

10. B.B. Warfield, Biblical Doctrines, quoted in Loraine Boettner, Unconditional Election, (accessed 11 May 2011)

11. Loraine, Boettner, Unconditional Election, (accessed 11 May 2011)

12. Augustus Toplady, Predestination, quoted in Loraine Boettner, Unconditional Election, (accessed 11 May 2011)

13. Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen, By This Standard (Powder Springs, GA: The American Vision, Inc.; Nacogdoches, Texas: Covenant Media Press, 2008) p.71

14. R.J. Rushdoony, Law & Liberty (Vallecito, CA: Ross House Books, 1984) p.10-11

15. Ibid. p.4

16. David F. Wells, The Courage to be Protestant (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2008) p.64

17. 1689 Second London Confession of Faith; Chapter 32, Section 1, http://www.reformedreader.org/ccc/1689lbc/english/1689econtents.htm (accessed 23 May 2011)

18 Ibid. Chapter 32, Section 2

Read More:
Introduction by Devin Maddox
Part 1 - Resurrection: The True Hope of the Saints by Devin Maddox
Part 2 - The Dominion of Christ by James Brown Jr.

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