Chapter Six                                                           The Ambassador “Today I bring a message on Christian patriotism as one of the bulwarks that may be able to save America. Romans, chapter 13, says: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.  Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?  do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to thee for good.  But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.  Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.  For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.” – Rom. 13:1-6 One who is not a patriotic citizen is not a good Christian.  That is what God said. (Emphasis added, mine) We read in I Peter, chapter2, verse 13 and following: “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors,  as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment  of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.  Honour all men.  Love the brotherhood.  Fear God.  Honour the king.” The Ruler is God’s Minister in That Matter And then in I Timothy we are told that ‘men ought to lift up holy hands and pray for those in authority.’ Christians ought to be good citizens.  One who is not a good citizen is not a good Christian.” (Emphasis added, mine) (John R. Rice in “Let Us Save our American Heritage, page 24 © 1975 by the Sword of the Lord Publishers) “PATRIOTISM, Love of one’s country, the passion which aims to serve one’s country, either in defending it from invasion, or protecting its rights and maintaining its laws and institutions in vigor and purity.  Patriotism is the characteristic of a good citizen, the noblest passion that animates a man in the character of a citizen.” (The Noah Webster 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language) The fervent passion of patriotism has once again swept the streets of our nation since the tragedy of September 11, 2001.   The American flag can be seen raised on buildings, street corners, stores, cars and people’s homes throughout our proud nation.  America is a land of power and might that supports its military in a manner not seen since the middle of the twentieth century when other nations threatened the peace of our land in battles in many far away places.  The anti-military, anti- establishment era of the sixties has long since passed and we now feel no shame to openly embrace our flag, our anthem and our precious sons and daughters who often serve this nation in harms way around the world.  Yes, America is a patriotic nation and Americans in general are good, patriotic citizens who support our President and our Congress and the sacrifices that our young men and women often pay with their precious blood.  Most especially, America’s churches are the icon of America’s righteousness and fervent patriotism throughout our land.  We are a patriotic people and our churches are red, white and blue confessors of American ideals and patriotic zeal.  There are many church leaders that quote from the same verses above as John R. Rice did offering Biblical support to the “doctrine” of “God and Country” throughout our land today. Yet the Scriptures say in Psalm 113:5-6: “Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!” My dear brethren, I ask of you a very simple question:  If the LORD must humble himself even to look upon His own creation, then who can stand beside Him and share His glory with Him?? (Isaiah 42:8)  Which nation is it that has the Holiness and righteousness of God??  Which nation has the mind of God and can be His counselor?? (Romans 11:34) I know of no earthly nation that is a holy nation consecrated and dedicated unto the LORD without the stain of sin and iniquity by the actions of sinful men. In fact, the Scriptures state that all nations have tasted of the wine of the fornication with MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH: “For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich though the abundance of her delicacies.” (Revelation 18:3) When I was last in the Philippines watching an academic contest at a local college, I was stunned by a phrase on a tack board that if it had been inside of an American church I probably would not have even noticed. Yet in the Philippines, it caught my eye and spoke to my heart of a most sinister false doctrine of men.  The sign simply read in English: “GOD AND COUNTRY” What followed was a short exhortation to the Filipinos of their duty to God and their country.  I mentioned this sign to my Filipino brother in law who then proudly shared with me the “godly” heritage that the Philippines had and stated that God had chosen his nation to spread the gospel (Roman Catholic gospel) throughout the world, even in a missionary sense to America that has become the epitome of godless decadence as compared to any nation known.  This simple phrase stuck with in my heart and I pondered the relationship of America to God.  Simply considering the Philippines and comparing it to God seemed indeed the utmost of hypocrisy with the kidnappings, murders, corruption, greed and complete chaos in every aspect of Filipino life with poverty, filth, Muslim insurrection, communist insurrection, terrorist cells and political corruption that typifies the daily life of my wife’s family who have raised their children and who have died in this country.  Yet in America, where we have the form of godliness but deny the power thereof, it is easy to miss the simple fact that it is indeed blasphemous to mention in reverence the name of any nation with the name of God in the same sentence.   Yet, how can we not see the same influences of the MYSTERY BABYLON sun god religion even here in America.  I simply state again: Which nation is it that has the holiness and righteousness of God??  Which nation has the mind of God and can be His counselor?? (Romans 11:34) We have grown up in America listening to this statement for so many years that I believe few of us have ever really pondered the meaning of “GOD AND COUNTRY.”  I would ask of you to first ponder the Scriptures in Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” The LORD my God, the KING of kings and the LORD of lords is the Holy God of Israel who has delivered me from my sins and placed me in heavenly places. “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. . . Now there ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:6&19; see also 20-22) “Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!” (Psalm 113:5-6) Which nation on earth has the Holiness and righteousness of God?? “All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.” (Isaiah 40:17) My fellow brethren in Christ, the simple answer is none!!  But the LORD Himself actually spoke of such a nation that was to come when He stood before the Pharisees: “Jesus saith unto them. Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Matthew 21:42-44) Which nation is this that the Lord is speaking of? Is it Israel?  Is it America? Could it be the Philippines??  No, it is not an earthly nation that He is speaking of and it is not an earthly kingdom that the people of this nation will be of.  The literal, scriptural fulfillment of this parable is given to us by Peter who was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19).  As in so many of the mysteries of the Bible, the Lord indeed has given Peter in his short epistles the keys to understanding many of the mysteries of the kingdom of God.  And so is it with this mystery of a nation to come bringing forth the fruits thereof: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”    Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” Therefore, the holy nation that the Lord speaks of in Matthew 21:42-44 is the heavenly nation of the born again believers in the Lord Jesus that have been called and chosen (I Peter: 2:5-16).  This is a nation that does indeed have the holiness and reverence and righteousness of our heavenly Father and that will have the heart and mind of God when we shall appear before Him in heaven and when we shall be just like Him fashioned in the image of His Son.  This is a nation that we should have a “love of one’s country, the passion which aims to serve one’s country, either in defending it from invasion, or protecting its rights and maintaining its laws and institutions in vigor and purity.  Patriotism is the characteristic of a good citizen, the noblest passion that animates a man in the character of a citizen.” (The Noah Webster 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language) This heavenly nation should be foremost on our minds at all times.  It was on the minds of the many men of faith mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11 who were not mindful of the nations from which they came lest they would have been tempted to return: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. . . “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.”                                                              (Hebrews 11:13-16; 13:13-14) Consider your citizenship and what Christ requires of us as fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God! We are in the world but we are not of the world.  We are strangers and pilgrims sojourning in a foreign land.   When we die, we go “home” to the Lord.  This world is not our home and we have no continuing city here.  There is neither Jew nor Greek in the body of Christ for we all now have one heavenly citizenship. There is no earthly nationality in any sense with the kingdom of God. In England,  they speak of "Queen and Country."  In America it is "God and Country." Patriotism and nationalism abound throughout the world in all nations.  Yet, we are joint heirs in the body of Christ.  We are fellow citizens of the household of God and we sit in heavenly places.  We are not dual citizens of heaven and earth, we are instead the adopted sons of God and we have only one citizenship and we have only one master and we have only one heavenly nation that we are a part of.  There is no room to be mindful of whatever nation that we came out of lest we have opportunity to return.   The issue of nationalistic patriotism and the role of individual Christian allegiance to both Christ and their own native land is in many ways not unique to the American experience, yet in America as we shall see in the proceeding chapters, we shall delineate how it will play a critical role not only for Americans in America, but also for the entire world in the fulfillment of America's role in Bible prophecy.  Therefore, even though my writings on "America and King James in the Revelation" have been written from an American perspective to a mainly American audience, those that read this work outside of America must keep in mind that their own unique nationalism and patriotism ideals are likewise irreconcilable with the unique relationship that ALL believers share in the kingdom of God as ambassadors for Christ and as the sons of God and His heirs jointly with Christ. “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee.” "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”                                                                   (John 17:9,11a & 16) Sons of God: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”                                                                         (John 1:12-13) “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles . . .”                                                                     (I Peter 2:11-12a) “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven, for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?” “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”                                                               (Matthew 5:44-46 & 48) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9) Please ponder and consider carefully the phrase “God and country.”   John R. Rice, a noted preacher and teacher from a generation ago stated that you cannot be a good Christian if you are not a good patriot.  To be a good patriot, you need to place your country first in all things.  You must be mindful of that country above all of your own personal desires and needs and to be willing to give your life for your country if needed.  You must be mindful of that country to be a good patriot!!  The LORD’s thoughts are not our thoughts and as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His thoughts higher than our thoughts.  Would you consider your thoughts towards your heavenly country and be ever mindful of the Holiness and glory of our heavenly Father and of our glorified home where we shall spend all eternity. The key to understanding the proper role in America to politics and civil reverence comes from the clear understanding of Christian citizenship.  Christians are not of the world but we are citizens of heaven.  We do not have dual citizenship.  He who is not for God is against God.  Whosoever is a friend of the world is an enemy of God.  You must declare your allegiance to God or country for you cannot have two masters, for you will despise one over the other.  Choose now whether you will serve the Lord.  For those that seek a heavenly country and have no continuing city here, we must understand that as a stranger and pilgrim to this world we have another most important role to play for our Lord; that of an ambassador: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.     For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” II Corinthians 5:20-21 Embassador (i.e. Ambassador): A minister of the highest rank employed by one prince or state, at the court of another, to manage the public concerns of his own prince or state, and representing the power and dignity of his sovereign…They are also called ministers. (The Noah Webster 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language) Therefore, the verses that John R. Rice and others that quote from I Peter Chapter two, Romans 13 and Hebrews 13 do not confirm in any manner the statement that “One who is not a patriotic citizen is not a good Christian.  That is what God said.” We must first place all of these verses in the context of our citizenship in the heavenly country as a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people and as strangers and sojourners in this world.  To misconstrue this context would then place both Jew and Greek within the heavenly kingdom when instead the Jew and the Greek that becomes a believer in our Lord Jesus willingly gives up his earthly citizenship for his heavenly citizenship in the household of God as the adopted sons of our Abba Father.  John R. Rice has thus taken these scriptures out of context and applied an inappropriate and unacceptable application to justify this mistaken doctrine of men called "Christian Patriotism" now so prevalent in the churches of America.  Instead, a close study of Romans chapter 13, I Peter chapter 2 and Hebrews chapter 13 reveals not the doctrine of patriotism, but instead it is the rules of engagement for a heavenly ambassador “employed by one prince or state, at the court of another, to manage the public concerns of his own prince or state, and representing the power and dignity of his sovereign.”   An ambassador does not vote in the country that he is assigned (if it is a democratic nation that even has elections) and does not run for public office in that country, nor does he operate through the power of legislation or through the internal workings of that government. Instead, he presents the “public” concerns of his sovereign to the court that he is assigned to.  He does not assume the citizenship of the country that he is assigned to and instead is always obedient unto his home country.  Paul never assumed any political positions nor did he urge civil disobedience or go contrary to the laws of the land. But he did on several occasions require the public officials to keep the ordinances and laws that were ordained by the Lord (Acts 16:37- 38; Acts 22:24-29).  He renounced his earthly citizenship for that of his spiritual citizenship through Christ throughout the time he did spend in his earthly body.  He may have been a Roman to the Romans and a Jew unto the Jews, but to the Lord, he was neither “Jew nor Greek,” but simply of the Lord of Heaven. Thus, in accordance with Romans chapter 13, I Peter chapter 2 and Hebrews chapter 13, he appealed to Caesar in accordance to Roman law to subvert the treachery of the Jewish counsels against him.  He was a minister of the highest rank (Apostle) employed by one prince (Jesus) or state (our heavenly, holy nation), at the court of another (Caesar), to manage the public concerns (spreading the gospel) of his own prince or state, and representing the power and dignity of his sovereign.   At no time did Paul disgrace the name of His heavenly King by being mindful of earthly things.  He was instead a minister of the gospel presenting the good news of the kingdom of God to all who had ears to hear and eyes to see.  He kept the reproach of Christ ever present before him (II Corinthians 12:10, Hebrews 11:26 and 13:13;     I Timothy 4:10).  Therefore the full context of Romans chapter 13,    I Peter chapter 2 and Hebrews chapter 13 can not be understood until you read the full set of verses at the end of these chapters: “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”                                                                       (Romans 13:13-14) “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.”                                                                      (Hebrews 13:12-13) “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief; suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (I Peter 2:18-24) Therefore, we have come to the conclusion of the whole matter.  First, we are pilgrims and sojourners, we are in the world but we are not of the world, we are citizens of heaven and we have renounced our earthly citizenship for that of our heavenly household of God. We are the adopted sons of God and we are His ambassador to this cursed earth.  We are to obey the laws of the land so we will not bring our own reproach upon ourselves and hinder the gospel of Christ. We are to adhere to the rules of engagement for ambassadors employed in the Lord’s service and we are to represent the power and dignity of our sovereign. If you are a drunken, adulterous, fornicating, lying, stealing, cheating, cowardly, untrustworthy, disobedient and rebellious child of God, you will not be an effective ambassador.   To consider the higher matters of God does not in any way preclude the noblest of considerations for our country or our kinsman in this country.  The entire Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testament with a higher level of enactment for each by the Lord.  So also is the love of a heavenly ambassador for the country that he is sent higher than that of any earthly patriot.  As a patriot often gives of himself for his country, so also does an ambassador give of himself for the country he is sent.  In the case of Paul sent unto the Gentiles, think upon the love that he had for those in these pagan nations despite the beatings, the cursings, and the persecutions.  Yet, Paul on a mission from the Lord, called and sent at the time of his conversion on the road to Damascus, gave of himself in a manner that few patriots have ever done for their own countries.  Yet he was indeed an ambassador that ultimately gave his life for another country that was not his own (the Gentile nations that he was sent to). The duty of a heavenly ambassador is a much greater calling than that of an earthly patriot.  He is the link between a higher authority and that of another state in need of the benefit of that higher calling.  Recognizing that one is an ambassador of heaven in no manner diminishes the love and longing of one's own countrymen as Paul stated he was willing to give his salvation for that of his countrymen and that he would gladly be accursed for them.  Yet, it was not for the nation of Israel that Paul gave his life. No he gave his life in the service and for the glory of his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ of Nazareth and for his new heavenly nation where there is neither Jew nor Greek.  This holy nation has no earthly borders nor any earthly creeds, races or nationalities.  It is a royal priesthood, an holy nation set apart for fellowship with the Lord for all eternity.  It is the kingdom of heaven that behold is upon us even now and has been ever since our Lord walked the earth and gave His life for it. Indeed, the greatest ambassador of all times is the Lord Jesus Himself who knew no sin and was sent to this earth by the love of our heavenly Father.  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  No, He is not of this world and He was sent to this world to do the works of the Father that sent Him. Just as Jesus is the firstfruits of this heavenly nation, so are we to be just like Him when we appear before Him.  The Lord continues to work through us when we are sanctified unto Him and worship Him in Spirit and truth. No, we do not diminish our love for America in any manner when we assert that we are ambassadors of our heavenly, holy nation where we are a royal priesthood set aside for the good works of our Lord.  But instead, as a heavenly ambassador, we actually have and show a greater love for this country than any earthly patriot ever could.  Indeed, it is a much higher calling and in many ways a much greater sacrifice than that of an American patriot. Certainly, anyone that espouses to the concept of a "Christian Patriot" exposes themselves to a logical premise of double mindedness.  A Christian is first and foremost a citizen of heaven and places the love of His Lord above all things.  A zealous earthly patriot sets the love of one's country above all things and taken to extreme, this will lead to paganism (Revelation 18:3).  Therefore, it is an illogical and nonsensical statement to say: "Christian Patriot" unless of course the country considered is our heavenly, holy nation where we are the adopted sons of God and we are fellow citizens of the household of God.  The logical premises of this statement are such that they can in no manner be reconciled if the word patriot refers to America or any earthly country since an heavenly ambassador sent (see John Chapter 17) to this world can never be at the same time an earthly patriot sold out to a worldly authority as an end in itself.  These two entities have a totally different set of responsibilities and totally different sets of authority. Yet, being a Christian Ambassador leaves no such illogical conclusion to be considered as we have discussed above. Isaiah 1:18 states: "Come now, and let us reason together. Saith the LORD: . . ."  The Lord has given us a mind to reason with in these matters.  In fact, the heavenly "ambassador" Paul reasoned from the Scriptures every Sabbath with his earthly countrymen (Acts Chapter 17).  Therefore, equating any earthly country with God and therefore calling any believer a "Christian Patriot" noting by definition that they have two different authorities, one heavenly and one earthly, leaves me wanting for the logical conclusion of such a statement.  In fact, there are many verses that would countermand such a premise.  By point of illustration, the Roman government killed the early Christians for this very same reason; they refused to renounce their allegiance to their heavenly King in subservience to the earthly Roman Emperor.   But there are no contradictions for Romans chapter 13, I Peter chapter 2, and Hebrews chapter 13 when we recognize that they are simply the rules of engagement for a heavenly ambassador sent to this cursed earth. “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” John 18:36 “Jesus saith unto them. Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Matthew 21:42-43) The kingdom of God is not of this world and has been given to the people of God who are a holy nation, a royal priesthood and are strangers and pilgrims in this earth walking after the example that Christ gave for us. There is not a nation of this world that the kingdom was given to. There are some who contend that Paul gives witness to the doctrine of patriotism by the love that he had for Israel and for his kinsmen.  However, Paul makes a very clear distinction between those that are his kinsmen in the flesh and those who are his kinsmen in the Spirit: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” Romans 9:1-8 In this set of Scriptures, Paul makes it abundantly clear that the kinsmen of his flesh are not all his brethren, nor are they even counted to be neither of Israel nor of Abraham, for this is only given unto those who are of the seed of the promise. “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: . . . That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” Therefore, even in these Scriptures, the premise that Paul is “Patriotic” does not stand up to the test of God’s truth for even here Paul identifies himself  only with those who are of Abraham that are of the seed of the “promise” and not of the flesh. The Lord Himself so states in the gospel of John: “I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father.  Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. . . Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not  in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. . . Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.”                                                                     John 8:37-39, 44 & 56 In Galatians, Paul further clarifies the Scriptures showing us that the seed of the promise are all those that have a faith in Christ Jesus.  Thus, if any are to declare that Paul is “Patriotic” they must acknowledge that his patriotism is for that of the same holy nation, a royal priesthood, and the people of God who are of the household of God seated in the heavenly places and not for those who remain in the flesh and are not the children of God. “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.                                                                           Galatians 3:6-9 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be of Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”                                                                           Galatians 3:26-29 Therefore, there is no truth in the argument that Paul confirms the “biblical doctrine of Patriotism” by his love for his fellow kinsman of Israel.  Instead, this set of Scriptures again and likewise confirms the biblical truth of “the ambassador” sent to this cursed earth and they of whom are of the seed of Abraham and are the seed of the promise and the heirs in Christ Jesus.  Paul states that the people he identifies with are neither Jew nor Greek, for all are one in Christ Jesus.  There is no semblance of any doctrine from the Bible that confirms any nationalism or patriotism for any earthly nation, not even of Israel itself from hence Christ came “in the flesh.”  In Colossians, Paul again confirms the nature of this heavenly, holy nation: “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”                                                                             Colossians 3:11 The concept of an individual, national creed within the body of Christ is not evidenced anywhere in the Bible.  But instead, they are all one in Christ in the spiritual body that he has raised up that is known simply as “the church.”  In point of fact, Paul has no confidence in the flesh and he declares the love that he has for Christ greater than that of any earthly, national zeal: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:3-12 Paul declared here his earnest confidence in the flesh that he had before his conversion being “of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews. . .” This was his proud national heritage in the flesh that he was referring to and his “passion which aims to serve one’s country. . .” Paul vigorously defended the laws of Israel with a passionate and fervent zeal unequalled by any man in his nation:   “If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:” Paul had a “love of one’s country, the passion which aims to protect its rights and maintain its laws and institutions in vigor and purity.” He zealously persecuted the church of God in a nationalistic, patriotic, duty bound and law abiding one man crusade against what he believed to be an attack against his beloved country: “Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” Paul therefore counted as dung the “passion which aims to serve one’s country (Israel), either in defending it from invasion (the Christians), or protecting its rights and maintaining its laws (O.T.) and institutions (the Sanhedrin) in vigor and purity.” He counted all things as loss that he had earlier counted as gain: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” He counted those things of the flesh as dung and sought only those things of Christ in the spirit: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. . . Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, . . . That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering, being made conformable unto his death; . . .”  That which is of the flesh is the flesh and that which is of the spirit is spirit.  That same confidence in the flesh in our American churches today defined by the doctrine of men called “Christian Patriotism” was counted as dung by Paul if he could only have the “excellency of the knowledge of Christ.” “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. . . Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. . .      But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. . . Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” May the grace of God give us the courage, the strength and the will to bear our precious Saviour’s reproach outside of the camp where we have no continuing city on this earth, but we as Christians seek a heavenly city to come.  We are the heavenly ambassadors of Christ.                                                                         Return to Home Page                                                                    (www.kjv1611revealed.com)