PRINCIPLES OF GOD'S RULE
God has always communicated law and order to men.
God is not lawless.
God does not allow lawless, unstructured relationships.
Lawlessness creates confusion.
God is not the author of confusion, but of order.
UNIVERSE
God is the Ruler of the Universe. All creatures are answerable to God. Non intelligent life functions under the laws of nature. Intelligent life functions with freedom of will to either submit willingly to God's rule or suffer for disobedience to God's rule.
ANGELS
God had a law and order relationship with the angels. When the rebellious angels disobeyed God, they were separated from God forever, without hope of redemption.
HUMAN FAMILY
God established a Family in the Garden to teach moral law and order. Disobedience to God's rule separated the human family from God. God provided for reconciliation to willing humans through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus.
HUMAN GOVERNMENT
God established Human Government, after the flood, to enforce societal moral standards. Human Government is responsible to Provide moral and civil law, Protect the righteous,and Punish the wicked. Human Government is as responsible to follow Divine law and order as any individual. When a government rejects God's rule it separates itself from God and becomes the enemy of God.
THE CHURCH
God established The Church, after the resurrection of Christ, to teach and promote His standard of moral excellence to His people. When a local church, or a person who claims Christ as Lord chooses to live outside of God's order and rule, that church or person is separated from a right relationship with God.
GOD'S LAW APPLIED
God expects Christians to submit to legitimate authority and to also obey wicked men who enforce legitimate rule.
The rule of law is the rule of God.
God forbids obedience to godless laws.
DIVISION OF POWERS
The Government's realm is natural and societal, and its domain (jurisdiction) is moral law and civil law.
The Church's realm is spiritual, and its domain is moral law and church authority.
The State serves the Church.
Just as Humans have abandoned their call to lovingly obey God, Human Government has abandoned its call to obey God, or enforce His moral law, or serve the Church and Christians.
The Church is given the sword of spiritual authority and power and the State has been given the sword steel to enforce moral law and serve the Church.
GOD'S LAW APPLIED
God expects Christians to submit to legitimate authority and to also obey wicked men who enforce legitimate rule.
The rule of law is the rule of God.
God forbids obedience to godless laws.
DIVISION OF POWERS
The Government's realm is natural and societal, and its domain (jurisdiction) is moral law and civil law.
The Church's realm is spiritual, and its domain is moral law and church authority.
The State serves the Church.
Just as Humans have abandoned their call to lovingly obey God, Human Government has abandoned its call to obey God, or enforce His moral law, or serve the Church and Christians.
The Church is given the sword of spiritual authority and power and the State has been given the sword steel to enforce moral law and serve the Church.
