None of the articles on this site are intended to promote any political party or policy. In particular, the articles under this tab are about individual morality, not about government or politics. Christians are to accept and honor whatever government that they are under (Romans 13), as long as doing so does not violate God’s law (Acts 5:29). If it does, then we must obey God rather than men.
See below why you should be a pilgrim in this world, and how all things work together for good.
This landing page covers the following articles:
Judge Not that Ye Be Not Judged
Demons and Occult Organizations landing page
The Bible and the Koran
Are Religious People Happier?
Active Shooter Response
True Representative Government
No King in Israel
"Give us a King"
Cancer and Evolution
Eschatology - End Times - includes the following:
Cover Article on Eschatology
1. What Happens When We Die
2. The Second Coming of Jesus
3. Three Score and Ten (Psalms 90:10)
Our Ultimate Victory
Are you a pilgrim in this world?
How do All Things Work Together for Good?
Hebrews 11:13-16
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own.
15 And if indeed they had been mindful of that (country) from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better (country), that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.
1 Peter 2:11-17
11 Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul;
12 having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
14 or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
How do All Things Work Together for Good?
Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Some just say “all things work together for good.” Is this true? While their source for this statement is Romans 8:28 above, notice that this is not an unqualified statement. It does not apply to everyone. It only applies to those who love God, also described as those who are called according to His purpose. This repetition is for emphasis and clarification so that we do not ignore its importance. The idea is not just that God called them but that they responded to that call, and that they continue to respond to it in service to God. Given is both the cause and the effect: love is the cause, while continually recognizing His call in faithfulness is the effect.
When you love someone you want to be with them and spend time with them. Since God loves us, He wants us to be with him forever in the heavenly realm, just as Jesus was loved being with the Father before the worlds were made (John 17:5). A failure to marvel and appreciate this free gift of God is evidence that we have not heard (i.e., listened to) His call.
God has given us commands because He loves us. His commands express His love for us, just as parents’ instructions to their children are most often given out of love and concern for them. Jesus said (John 14:15): “If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.” And this could not be clearer than in (1 John 5:3): “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” Love of God is both our love for Him and His love for us.
The general statement “all things work together for good” does not always apply to those whose own sin causes them pain and punishment. However, these bad examples could be used for good by others to avoid the same consequences. The sinful people who bring about this pain cannot expect any benefits without their total repentance, teaching them (as others) the same lessons.
Some believe that there are events that are so horrendous that this principle cannot possibly apply – that all is being used in a hyperbolic sense. Arguing against this is the fact that the same Greek word for all is used in the close context in Romans 8:32: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?” Few would deny that the uses of all in this verse mean: (1) every single person to whom it applies, and (2) everything we could possibly need to enable our salvation. Think of an exception, then ask yourself: Is this not precisely the reason Paul wrote Romans 8:28? In a time when Christians were being fed to lions, they needed this assurance. Consider 1 Corinthians 15:32: “If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
This shows that the good of Romans 8:28 is not limited to this world. Even if having no possible benefit in this life, things working together for good are advantageous to our salvation. Let us never waver realizing that faith itself is the victory that shapes us as servants of Jesus. 1 John 5:4: “For whatsoever is begotten of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, (even) our faith.” If your faith is true, you can already taste these rewards.
What are the conditions of salvation given by Jesus?
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