What Does God Think about Voting? A Question of Earthly and Heavenly Citizenship

JESUS IS KING! Colossians 1.13-20 Vs. 13 – Transferred to a Kingdom Description of Jesus Vs. 17 – ALL things hold together Vs. 18 – First Place In EVERYTHING Vs. 13 – Transferred to a Kingdom JESUS IS KING!

Citizens of Heavenly Kingdom Col. 1.13-20 – Jesus is King One Lawmaker, One Enforcer, One Judge No vote, no veto Acts 4.18-28; 5.28-32 18And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Citizens of Heavenly Kingdom Col. 1.13-20 – Jesus is King One Lawmaker, One Enforcer, One Judge No vote, no veto Acts 4.18-28; 5.28-32 28saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Citizens of Heavenly Kingdom Col. 1.13-20 – Jesus is King One Lawmaker, One Enforcer, One Judge No vote, no veto Acts 4.18-28; 5.28-32 – Above Men 28saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Citizens of Heavenly Kingdom Col. 1.13-20 – Jesus is King One Lawmaker, One Enforcer, One Judge No vote, no veto Acts 4.18-28; 5.28-32 – Above Men John 18.36 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”

Citizens of Heavenly Kingdom Col. 1.13-20 – Jesus is King One Lawmaker, One Enforcer, One Judge No vote, no veto Acts 4.18-28; 5.28-32 – Above Men John 18.36 – Spiritual Kingdom What is our Calling? – 1 Pet. 2.9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Citizens of Heavenly Kingdom Col. 1.13-20 – Jesus is King One Lawmaker, One Enforcer, One Judge No vote, no veto Acts 4.18-28; 5.28-32 – Above Men John 18.36 – Spiritual Kingdom What is our Calling? – 1 Pet. 2.9 Still citizens of Earth – Acts 22.25 But when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?”

Contrast of U.S. Government 1 Chron. 12.32; Prov. 23.23 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were designated by name to come and make David king. 32Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command.

Contrast of U.S. Government 1 Chron. 12.32; Prov. 23.23 Republic with 3 Branches Legislative Judicial Executive

Contrast of U.S. Government 1 Chron. 12.32; Prov. 23.23 3 Branches of Federal Government Plurality wins not simply majority

Matthew 22.15-22 The Trap Whose likeness and inscription? “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s”

Render to Caesar… We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed… Declaration of Independence – July 4, 1776

Render to Caesar… We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed… Declaration of Independence – July 4, 1776

Render to Caesar… We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed… Declaration of Independence – July 4, 1776

Render to Caesar… We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Preamble of the US Constitution - 1787

Render to Caesar… The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion… Art. IV, Sec. 4 of the US Constitution - 1787

Render to Caesar… EXPECTS the consent of the governed Able to live under ANY civil Government Rom. 13.1-7 Christians MUST submit – Consider Nero GOD established governments (Dan. 4.25) God’s purpose for governments

Render to Caesar… EXPECTS the consent of the governed Able to live under ANY civil Government Rom. 13.1-7 1 Tim. 2.1-4 Pray for those in authority…for peace Good and acceptable POINT: God wants all men to be saved! Burwell v. Hobby – Decided in 2014

Render to God… Pro. 14.34; Ps. 33.8-17 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.

Render to God… Pro. 14.34; Ps. 33.8-17 Righteousness Exalts a Nation ALL Earth is called to Fear the LORD Moral Stances MATTER – Eph. 5.11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them

Deaths from U.S. Wars PBS Online News Story (05/34/15) 1775-Present: 1,196,554 Deaths http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/many-americans-died-u-s-wars/

1,432,265,231 Deaths from Abortions Lifenews.com (01/14/16) US Deaths since 1973: 58,586,256 NumberofAbortions.com - World Wide since 1980: 1,432,265,231 http://www.lifenews.com/2016/01/14/58586256-abortions-in-america-since-roe-v-wade-in-1973/

Render to God Pro. 14.34; Ps. 33.8-17 Jer. 18.1-11 Righteousness Exalts a Nation ALL Earth is called to Fear the LORD Moral Stances MATTER – Eph. 5.11 Jer. 18.1-11

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