(…continues from part five…)

6)            2Thessalonians 1:8 “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:” is the ominous fate awaiting unruly rejection of God’s command. That nothing seems to happen when we commit certain evil deeds cannot be interpreted to mean that God is either unaware or is unconcerned. Sooner than later, judgment comes, knocking ominously at the life of the evil doer.

                2Thessalonians 3:14 “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.” Scriptural epistles are contents of Holy Spirit’s breathed didacticism. They are Divine instructions that accompany us in our earthly journeys. Repudiation of scriptural establishments renders such perpetrators elements of anathema.    

“be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates”

                Titus 3:1 “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,” is the divine charge to His children. Authorities of governance are ministers of the Most High – whether they are God’s children or not. Disrespect to them is a direct confrontation with the Creator, who has appointed them. The word ‘principalities’ is arche (ar-chee’): ‘1. (properly abstract) a commencement. 2. (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank).’ Exousia (e-xou-siy’-a) is the Greek for ‘powers’. It means ‘1. authority, privilege, permission, the right to do something. 2. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom. 3. (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence.’ The next to be obeyed is ‘magistrates’, which is peitharcheo (pei-thar-che’-ō): ‘1. to be persuaded by a ruler. 2. (genitive case) to submit to authority. 3. (by analogy) to conform to advice.’

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation…” (Hebrews 5:9)

                In chief order of state administration in the Apostolic days is the Roman emperor. Kings, Presidents and Prime Ministers will, in these days pass for the arche, who hold executive posts of national administrations. Governors of States (holding executive office could be arche), their equivalents, Federal Ministers and State Commissioners, to whom powers are delegated are the exousia. The legislative arm of the Roman Senate could be in this official role. Court judges are the peitharcheo. The three tiers or arms of government, no doubt, got its establishment here. The Bible will not allow us to obey them when they ask us to do things contrary to the word of God.

                Hebrews 5:9 “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” and this is in reference to the humanity of the incarnate Christ, who as a man, went through the sufferings of Adamic realities of sinfulness, not that He committed any sin, but that He had to partake of human frailties, and having accomplished through the obedience of His own word, those who will obey God, through His accomplishments, they are endowed with the eternality of salvation. The words ‘made perfect’ is teleioō (tel-i-o’-o) ‘to complete, that is, (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character). What is ‘author’? It is aitios (ah’-ee-tee-os): ‘causative, that is, (concretely) a causer.’ Aitios is the same as aiteō (ahee-teh’-o) which means: ‘to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require.’

“And being made perfect…(Hebrews 5:9)

                Now, the significance of teleioō is the accomplishment of a set goal. The consummation of this bourne is the death, burial and most importantly, the ultimate resurrection. This divine substitutionary death of the cross attracted divine legitimacy of Christ’s Authorship of the soteriological cause. Jesus Christ, therefore, is the sole cause of eternal salvation. Disobedience to the finished work of the cross leads, ultimately, to the eternality of hellish death. If the Bible says, “For all have sinned”, it does include every living intelligent being on the terra firma. If Jesus obeyed the set rules of salvation, those who wish to partake of this spiritual salvageability must show obedience as well.

                Hebrews 11:8, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Imagine if father Abraham had not obeyed God’s instruction, who would have spoken a word about him? Obedience stood Abraham out. Abraham has the enviable title of ‘Father of faith’ all because he chose to believe and obey the word of God. We should likewise obey God’s word, whether it makes religious, psychological or philosophical sense or not.

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise [Mat 21:16]

Say this prayer, meaning it with all your heart:

“Dear heavenly Father, I come to You now in the name of Jesus Christ. I believe in my heart that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sin. I believe that You raised Him from the dead. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and I receive Him now as my Lord and my Saviour. I give God all the glory. Amen!” 

(…to be continued…)

Read part five here

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