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Romans 13
gods many
Eternal life and
Turning the other Cheek

Gary & Joan wrote concerning Romans 13 and "Clergy Response Teams":

“I may not know everything about the bible but I have just a couple of questions: Did Jesus mention something about we are all gods? Second: Did he say something about eternal life not being here on earth and to turn your cheek rather fight those who think they control you?” G & J

Dear G & J,

In John 10:34 “Jesus answered them, 'Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?'”

The words in the old [Hebrew] and new [Greek] Testaments, which we see translated as "gods" or "God" were used everyday to address judges in courts of law. They both mean a "ruling judge".

Even the Strong's Concordance states that both words we translate God and gods were used to identify judges and magistrates in courts in the governments established by men at the time. This is why Paul says "There are gods many".

The word commonly translated God or gods in the Old Testament is translated judges in Exodus 21:6, 22:9, and 1 Samuel 2:25 when the Bible is specifically talking about matters that require a court decision concerning guilt or innocence.

Israel was originally a free nation with a system of courts and appeals courts, foundational laws that forbid killing, robbery, unjust injuring by fraud or negligence and even desiring to have access to your neighbors goods for your personal benefit.1

They had a system of general and individual welfare, armies for local and national defense. They had all that, but unlike modern governments it was originally based on voluntarism, individual responsibility to family and neighbor and a strong sense of moral justice, mercy, and unselfish honesty.

Moses had required that the people love their neighbor as themselves.2 This of course is an essential characteristic of any successful free government. Christ preached the same exact thing for His kingdom of God at hand.3

The reason for this is because God is the same yesterday as he is today.4 Moses and Jesus were in agreement. It is the Pharisees and Sadducees that did not understand Moses.

A problem arises today because most people, including modern Christians, imagine that Israel was based on the misconceptions of the Pharisees, who clearly got it wrong. The kingdom of God is a system of self government based on faith, hope and charity coming forth from the hearts and minds of those who seek it.

“I often wonder whether we do not rest our hopes too much upon constitutions, upon laws, and upon courts. These are false hopes; believe me, these are false hopes. Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it....”5

The kingdom of God binds the people together by that common love of God and His righteousness rather than oaths of allegiance, contracts, and leagues of nations, all of which were forbidden by Abraham, Moses and Jesus the Christ.6 It does not depend on complex or superstitious doctrines, catchy phrases but upon actively loving your neighbor in congregations of people with a common heart and mind given them by God. The kingdom and its precepts sustained the early Christians as Rome collapsed under the weight of its own corruption and power hungry leaders.

If we could understand what the early Christians were really doing, then some people today might have the same chances and opportunities given to the early Church by the teachings of Christ. In order to seek the kingdom and God's righteousness we need to understand what it is.

To understand the full message of Christ and to apply it today in our life we may have to turn your world upside down and your preconceived notions about the Bible inside out.

Judges or gods are those men who have the right to decide the law for you, i.e. what is good and what is evil. In early Israel, when it was still a free government, the people decided both fact and law through their congregations of tens which formed the network of courts throughout their nation. There was no top down rule where kings became the “fountainhead of justice”7. That is what Christ meant when he answered them, “Is it not written in your law'”.

 Over and over in the faithful governments of God, men are given the right to choose, to make free will offerings8 and live without any kings9 or gods ruling over them. And when the voice of the people10 chose a ruler who could exercise authority over them,11 it was called a rejection of God.12

They were also warned to make no covenants with the gods of those nations where they went.13 When you make covenants with those gods they may have the right to force your sacrifices or contributions even though this as been classified as foolish.14 And you might even be tempted to accept the benefits15 offered by those gods which men choose for themselves.16

These gods of men are the judges and law makers of governments made by the hands of men17 who gain power over others because men apply for benefits, make covenants, leagues, and agreements. Men are tempted to do this because benefactors who exercise authority offer benefits18 for their welfare19 but only at the expense of their neighbor. This makes them merchandise 20and snares21 them in the process.

The Bible often uses other metaphors like tables, eating with rulers, dainties,22 and nets23 to warn us of how damning it may be to apply or participate in any benefit schemes that are provided at the expense of our neighbor.

Christ's kingdom was and is at hand. But it is not for the slothful24. It is for the diligent25 and those who are faithful do what God has always told us to do.26 This kingdom of liberty granted and instituted by God is what we are told to preach.27 In that government people live according to the perfect law of liberty28 and have a right to decide the 'fact and law” within the foundational laws of God called the Ten Commandments.

In the United States system of courts, juries used to decide fact and law. But today the people are instructed by the judge to decide facts only and he, as the "god of the court", decides the law. There are many other gods today, from Local, District Courts, and Appellate Courts up to the Supreme Court, and now even the World Court.

These courts have power because we have neglected to exercise our community responsibilities. We have been covetous of their benefits and we have signed agreements where we must bow down and serve these gods.

When judges in court have the right to decide the law and the people don't, then the people are no longer gods as Christ said and God intended. The people are subject to the will of other gods.

 In early America the jury clearly had the right and duty to decide fact and law, but that is not the case presented anymore by the modern administrative courts today.

 How did this happen?

Kingdom in the world but not of it

 First, the people did and do not follow the words of Abraham, Moses or Christ, although many give lip service on Saturday or Sunday.

 Jesus does talk about "eternal life" but mostly in the context of what you are supposed to "do" to obtain it.

"And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Matthew 19:16, 19

Loving your neighbor would include not coveting his goods or oppressing or forcing him to contribute to your welfare. It would also include being concerned that no one else oppressed him or took away the liberty that God has given men from the beginning.

If you believe in and love Christ you will love and believe in the ways of Christ and enjoy doing the things He said to do. The kingdom of God is essentially a spiritual state, but Christ came in Spirit and in truth. Like Moses he came to set us on a path to liberty under God because that is where true spiritual growth will thrive.

Jesus did say:

“... My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” John 18:36

We should not apply this commonly misunderstood statement which Jesus made in the Roman court of Pilate as to mean that His kingdom was not on this planet. He said over and over that His kingdom was at hand, it was for the living not the dead, and then appointed it and told others to preach it was at hand.

If you read this article29 you will see the word world has nothing to do with being on earth or on this planet. This is another falsehood exposed that will continue to turn your world right side up or upside down depending on if you love God and His kingdom of liberty.

Turn Your Cheek Rather Fighting

As to not striking back or fighting He also said that if you do not have a sword you should sell your coat and go get one.30 We must put turning the other cheek into perspective.

Christ was a king who stood for peace and forgiveness, not force and violence. But to stand by and do nothing while innocent people are being murdered or even just robbed is an act of violence in itself. 

We are told to strive31 and be diligent and that there is a burden to this seeking the kingdom. The problem is that we are often quick to fight and blame others for our own failing. The present condition of society is a direct result of the fact that we have not actively been concerned with our neighbors rights as we are with our own. In fact we have been content to take away our neighbors liberties for our own welfare and under the pretense of social security. This sloth and covetous social practice is in opposition to liberty.

The articles on Romans 13 are merely showing everyone that Paul was actually saying.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher liberty. For there is no liberty but of God: the liberties that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth  the liberty, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the liberty? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.” Romans 13: 1,3

If you are not actively seeking liberty for all then you are in opposition to God. It is God's desire that we set our neighbors free from the tyranny of our own demand for social welfare. It is good to care for the social needs of our society, but this should be done by benefactors who operate by faith, hope, and charity under the perfect law of liberty, not by force and fear.

Social Democrats think we should take care of the social welfare by forcing contributions of the people through benefactors who exercise authority over the people, but Jesus clearly said:

"... The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so:"     Luke 22:25 

 It does not matter if one is politically Republican or Democrat. Both believe that social or defense benefactors should have the right to force the contributions of the people to fulfill their responsibilities of office even though the Bible states that such political ideology and practice is "foolish"32 and amounts to "rejecting"33 God.

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27

Modern churches not only fail to practice "pure religion" which is the caring for the welfare of widows, orphans and other needy of society by faith, hope, and charity, but they actually send their members to those benefactors of the world who exercise authority over the people compelling their offerings. This practice gives men power over the people contrary to the ways of the prophets of God.

The word “world” in James 1:27 and John 18:36 is defined as “an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government.” Jesus' kingdom was not a part of the world order of Rome and Rome's court had no jurisdiction concerning His government.34

“The real destroyers of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.” Plutarch, 2000 years ago.

The loss of freedom anywhere in the world is always a direct result of our own avarice and sloth, pride and prejudice, envy and arrogance, and our general inability or willingness to come together in the interest of justice and mercy for others as well as our selves. This is as hard for people to accept today as it was in the days of Christ. The understanding and knowledge that we are to blame for the present state of the world turns our world upside down, and puts the burden back on our own shoulders.

The truth hurts. It is very hard for people to accept that their religion is a lie and their churches are being used to delude them into feeling good about opposing the very liberty Abraham, Moses, and Jesus the Christ came to give us. But if we are going to regain access to our God given rights we are going to have to take back our God given responsibilities first. If we are going to seek the kingdom and His righteousness we are going to have to learn the whole truth about the gospel of the kingdom.

Peace on your house

Gregory at hisholychurch.org

 

 
 

Romans 13

Romans 13, verse 1, is one of the most misunderstood verses of the Bible and a vast system of control and power over the people of the world is dependent upon this pervasive misunderstanding and the resulting confusion.

We present several articles and recordings on this subject.

Article on Romans 13.

Free printable downloads 5" X 8 1/2" Pamphlet on Romans 13.

Free printable downloads 8 1/2" X 11" Article on Romans 13

Recording of Romans 13.

Part1 in Real Audio format

Part 2 in Real Audio format

Part 3 in Real Audio format

Part 4 in Real Audio Format

Order 2 CDs on Romans 13

 
 

Associated Links:
Romans 13 Full Text
Romans 13 Short Text

Voice of the People

Mighty Hunter

Letter about Romans 13

Romans 13, Disengagement From Benefits
http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/letters/romans-disengage.html

Romans 13, gods many, Eternal life and Turning the other Cheek
http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/letters/roman-gods-life.html

   
 
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Footnotes:


1Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour’s.

Romans 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

2Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD.

3Matthew 19:19 Honour thy father and [thy] mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mark 12:31 And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

Romans 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

4Isaiah 28:10 For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little:

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

5The Spirit of Liberty, Learned Hand, p.190, (1944).

6Judges 2:2 “And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?” These altars were systems of benefits for the welfare of the people.

7Before the Norman conquest of England in 1066 the people were the fountainhead of justice. The Anglo-Saxon courts of those days were composed of large numbers of freemen and the law which they administered, was that which had been handed down by oral tradition from generation to generation. In competition with these non professional courts the Norman king, who insisted that he was the fountainhead of justice, set up his own tribunals. The judges who presided over these royal courts were agents or representatives of the king, not of the people; but they were professional lawyers who devoted most of their time and energy to the administration of justice, and the courts over which they presided were so efficient that they gradually all but displaced the popular, nonprofessional courts.” Clark’s Summary of American Law. P 530. The Covenants of the gods, Law vs Legal http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/gods/lvl.htm

8Deuteronomy 16:10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:

Deuteronomy 23:23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.

Leviticus 22:18, 2 Chronicles 31:14, Ezra 1:4, Ezra 3:5, Ezra 7:13, Ezra 7:16, Ezra 8:28, Psalms 119:108

9Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Judges 18:1 In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.

Judges 19:1 And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.

Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

10Voice of the People http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/voteking.html

11Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But ye shall not be so:

Mark 10:42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But ye shall not be so:

Luke 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so:

121 Samuel 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. Voice of the People http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/voteking.html

13Exodus 23:32 Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.

141 Samuel 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

15Exodus 34:15 Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and [one] call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;

16Judges 10:14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

17Exodus 20:23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.

18Luke 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so:

19Psalms 69:22 Let their table become a snare before them: and [that which should have been] for [their] welfare, [let it become] a trap.

202 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

21Romans 11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

22When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. Proverbs 23:1

23My son, walk not thou in the way with them; ... Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. Proverbs 1:17

24Proverbs 12:24 “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.”  Tribute is an excise tax and by law it has always been a patrimonial right of rulers as the “conscripted fathers” of nations. That is to say when the governments assume the responsibilities and authority which God the Father originally granted the Fathers of individual families.  This is contrary to the plan of God the Father and is why Jesus said "Call no man on earth Father" http://www.hisholychurch.org/study/bklt/father.pdf

252 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” [The word study here is only translated study in this one place. Everywhere else it is translated some form of the word diligent.]

26Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

27Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 1:38, Mark 16:15, Luke 9:60, Acts 16:10, Matthew 4:23, Matthew 9:35, Matthew 24:14, Mark 1:14, Mark 1:15.

28James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

30Luke 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take [it], and likewise [his] scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

31Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

321 Samuel 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

331 Samuel 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. Voice of the People http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/voteking.html

   
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