WEkklesia
Recently John MacArthur, senior pastor at Grace Community Church in California, took a bold and principled stand against the un-biblical lockdown measures which have restricted God's people from their God-given command to assemble together.
Speaking out of the midst of these trials last Sunday September 13th, MacArthur delivered a fearless sermon declaring God’s unchanging requirements for all nations and their rulers. Although I don’t agree with some of MacArthur’s theological positions, I believe this bold, sermon is of immediate relevance to the wider body of Christ in “lockdown” across the globe, addressing the abiding authority of biblical law for modern nations.
Why Jesus’ Rule Supersedes the Authority of All Political Leaders
Joseph Mattera
An exposition on Psalm 2. Part 1
My objective for this article is to illustrate how the Lord Jesus is the ruler of all kings and nations of the earth.
The need for this teaching is necessary. Most Christians only think of Jesus as their personal savior instead of as the exalted Lord of heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). This is the reason why much of the Church think they can separate politics and religion. Humanity will eventually face the question, “Do I believe the presidents, prime ministers, kings, and elected officials of the earth have the final say, or, do I believe Jesus does?” One significant portion of Scripture gives us a clear answer regarding this.
To understand the purpose of the ministry of Jesus Christ, we must understand several significant Psalms: Psalms 2, Psalms 22, Psalms 24, Psalms 45, Psalms 72, and Psalms 110 (Psalm 110 is the most quoted in the New Testament).
In this article, we will specifically examine Psalm 2. This Psalm will expand your view of the purpose of the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. In light of all the civil, political, and economic turmoil we are presently experiencing in the world, it is crucial to understand this Psalm.
Psalm 2:1–2 (NKJV):
“Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,”
Human history has shown that since the rebellious Cain, son of Adam, built a city, humankind has attempted to build civilizations in rebellion against God (Genesis 4:17). Examples of this are the Tower of Babel, ancient Egypt, ancient Babylon, ancient Assyria, the old Roman Empire, the Ming Dynasty, and in recent times, Nazi Germany, Japan, the European Union, the Soviet Union, China, and the greatest dynasty of them all, the USA.
King David asks in this Psalm, “why do the nations rage” against their Creator? From reading Scripture, we find that the reason is that, ultimately, since the Fall in the Garden of Eden, humanity desires to be autonomous from God and not submitted to anyone’s authority. Consequently, the primary idol in the world today is not sex, money, or power, but the “freedom of expression” which has its foundation in total autonomy.
That being said, all of the nations of the world, in general, have one thing in common: they have devised plans, philosophies, religions, and schemes against the Lord.
1 John 5:19 says, “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”
In his letter to the church of Ephesus, the Apostle Paul taught that the world is under the prince’s control of the power of the air, which is the spirit that operates in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:1–2).
The Bible teaches us that Satan’s goal is to exert dominion in this world over the nations through the political, economic, pop culture leaders, educators, and philosophers.
Jesus did not deny this when the devil offered to give Him all the kingdoms of this world in return for worshipping him (Matthew 4:8–10).
Psalm 2:3: “Let us break Their bonds in pieces.
And cast away Their cords from us.”
Verse 3 teaches us that the leaders and peoples of this world do not want any boundaries, laws, or restraints from their Creator. Unfortunately, for the rebellious, God gave the world the 10 commandments, not the 10 suggestions! Thus, God’s design regarding marriage, family, gender, sexuality, economics, and justice has to be followed to maximize the fullness of divine blessing.
Psalm 2:4-5: “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure”
In verses 4-5, when God sees the unrest and rebellion of the nations, He doesn’t get nervous. Instead, He laughs and holds them in derision. God then releases distress upon the nations through His spoken word or decree. We see glimpses of this taking place in the courts of heaven when God’s decrees go forth regarding the fate of the nations of the world (1 Kings 22, Isaiah 6, Jeremiah 23, Revelations 5, Revelations 8)
And boy, we see much distress, turmoil, and anxiety in all the world nations today, don’t we?
Psalm 2:6: “Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.”
God’s authoritative response is that I have already set my Son, Jesus as the nations’ ruler! I have already done my thing, and there is nothing the United Nations, China, Russia, Iran, or the USA can do about it! Consequently, whether the nations approve of Jesus or not, God already set Jesus above the heavens and the earth as the ruler after His ascension.
For a brief period of time the people of the United States of America were essentially united concerning the black-white racial issues that so endanger our future as a nation. Captured by a video that left no room for alternative points of view, universally the phrase “I can’t breathe” decisively penetrated tens of millions of