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THE
NEW LIFE by
John Marshall
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Chapter
10 • THE
BELIEVER AND THE STATE:
"RESIST NOT EVIL"
"This
Present Evil World"
Although Peter, Paul and John the Apostle join in giving this
kind of advice, they knew the kind of world in which believers
have to live: "We know that we are of God, and the whole
world lieth in wickedness." The salutation of the Apostle
Paul to the Galatians refers to the world in similar terms:
"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from
our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that
he might deliver us from this present evil world.. ."
If the world of today is different from New Testament times,
it is only so in the degree of evil which, world wide, is
much greater than ever before. It is a world which still lives
by the law of retaliation.
To be saved from this present evil world the believer must
follow the course set for him by Jesus: "Be ye therefore
perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
This means that the believer must do good to brother, friend
or enemy; he must pray for those who despitefully use him;
he must love his fellow men, even those who hate him! This
is a hard way to live, but it is the only way if we wish to
enjoy an endless life.
It is on these bases, and with this kind of spiritual outlook
that one's relationship with and service to the State must
be viewed.
"Resist not Evil"
The rule which Jesus left for the guidance of his followers
was: "Resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth
thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
The word translated resist means to withstand or oppose. If
we remember that Jesus put this rule of conduct against the
law of "an eye for an eye" it will be seen that
what Jesus is saying is "Do not retaliate".
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References
1 John 5v19, Gal 1v3-4, Matt 5v48, Matt 5v39 RV
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Chapter
10 • THE BELIEVER
AND THE STATE:
"RESIST NOT EVIL"
Jesus
and his followers lived by this rule, but it did not stop them frustrating
evil men when they could do so, as Jesus did when the Jews would
have thrown him to his death over the brow of a hill, and as Paul
did by claiming Roman citizenship.
The modern believer too, like the followers of Jesus, must live
by this rule of conduct. If someone throws a stone at him or attempts
to use a weapon against him, he would not do wrong to take evasive
action, or to protect himself. But vengefully, in anger, to beat
one's assailant, to throw stones back, or to take other offensive
action would be wrong.
A sister would do right to defend herself if a ruffian attacked
her and any believer would be acting within Christ's rule of conduct
if he left his assailant to the processes of law.
The task of the believer is to submit to transformation by the renewing
of his mind in Christ, not to be conformed to this world; to obey
the rule of Christ and not the law of retaliation. "Vengeance
is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." The time is to come
when we may have the opportunity of administering the perfect rule
of Jesus in a better world-the kingdom of God. In the meantime we
must "submit ourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's
sake".
Daily Occupations
The believer has not only to live in the world, but has to work
in it, and it is important that he engages himself in occupations
that can be done "as unto Christ... with goodwill doing service
as to the Lord, and not to men".
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References
Luke 4v29, Acts 22v25, Rom 12v19, 1 Peter 2v13, Eph 6v5-7
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