Re: Refutation of Satan's Witness LIES About War

Chapter 1

The Divine Appointment Of Civil Government And The Sword

Romans 13:1-2—"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. 
For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have 
been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities 
resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur 
judgment." (Romans 13:1-2 ESV)

"Instituted By God." Civil government is not a human invention or a 
pagan corruption; it is a divine institution. God Himself established 
civil authority to maintain order and justice in a fallen world. To 
rebel against the lawful authority of the government to bear the sword 
is to rebel against the ordinance of God.

Romans 13:3-4—"For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. 
Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is 
good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for 
your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the 
sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out 
God's wrath on the wrongdoer." (Romans 13:3-4 ESV)

"He Does Not Bear The Sword In Vain." The sword is an instrument of 
physical force, execution, and warfare. God has explicitly armed the 
civil ruler with this physical sword to restrain evil and execute 
justice. When the government uses physical force to punish wrongdoers 
and protect the innocent, the civil officer acts as "the servant of God" 
and "an avenger who carries out God's wrath."

1 Peter 2:13-14—"Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human 
institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as 
sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do 
good." (1 Peter 2:13-14 ESV)

"Sent By Him To Punish Those Who Do Evil." Lawful authorities are 
commissioned by God to punish evildoers. This mandate includes the 
defense of the nation against external aggressors and internal criminals 
through the use of authorized force.

Proposition: God has ordained civil government and armed it with the 
physical sword to restrain evil, preserve order, and execute justice 
upon wrongdoers.

Chapter 2

The Command To Buy A Sword And The Changed Mission

Luke 22:35-36—"And he said to them, 'When I sent you out with no 
moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?' They said, 
'Nothing.' He said to them, 'But now let the one who has a moneybag take 
it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his 
cloak and buy one.'" (Luke 22:35-36 ESV)

"Sell His Cloak And Buy One." When Jesus originally sent forth His 
disciples to preach the gospel of the kingdom to Israel, He explicitly 
forbade them to carry moneybags, knapsacks, or extra footwear, 
guaranteeing them miraculous provision and protection during that offer 
of the kingdom. However, as Israel rejected Christ and His kingdom, 
Jesus explicitly revoked those former instructions. He commanded His 
followers to prepare for physical self-defense and survival in a hostile 
world, explicitly instructing anyone without a sword to sell his outer 
garment and buy one.

Luke 22:37-38—"For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in 
me: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors.' For what is written 
about me has its fulfillment. And they said, 'Look, Lord, here are two 
swords.' And he said to them, 'It is enough.'" (Luke 22:37-38 ESV)

"It Is Enough." The disciples produced two physical, literal swords, and 
Jesus affirmed that two were sufficient for their immediate group. This 
proves that Christ was not speaking in allegorical terms, but was giving 
a practical command regarding physical defense and preparation as the 
disciples transitioned into a new dispensation marked by hostility 
toward the Gospel.

Proposition: Following the rejection of the kingdom, Jesus officially 
changed the mission of His disciples, revoking their former instructions 
and explicitly commanding them to equip themselves with physical swords 
for protection in a hostile world.

Chapter 3

The Scriptural Approval Of Military Service

Luke 3:14—"Soldiers also asked him, 'And we, what shall we do?' And he 
said to them, 'Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false 
accusation, and be content with your wages.'" (Luke 3:14 ESV)

"Be Content With Your Wages." When professional soldiers came to John 
the Baptist—the forerunner of Christ—asking how to live righteously, 
John did not command them to abandon their military profession. He did 
not tell them to lay down their weapons or desert the army. He commanded 
them to act uprightly within their military calling and to be content 
with their soldier's pay.

Acts 10:1-2, 47-48—"At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a 
centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who 
feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, 
and prayed continually to God." (Acts 10:1-2 ESV) ... "Can anyone 
withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy 
Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name 
of Jesus Christ." (Acts 10:47-48 ESV)

"A Centurion." Cornelius was a high-ranking military officer in the 
Roman army. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized as a true 
believer. Yet, there is not a single word in the New Testament 
commanding him to resign his commission, nor is his military service 
ever described as sinful.

Hebrews 11:32-34—"And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to 
tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the 
prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, 
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of 
fire, escaped the edge of the sword, made strong out of weakness, became 
mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight." (Hebrews 11:32-34 ESV)

"Through Faith... Became Mighty In War." These godly men are 
immortalized in the great "Hall of Faith" of the New Testament. Their 
military exploits and defense of their nation were accomplished not 
through carnal rebellion against God, but "through faith" in Him.

Proposition: God recognizes military service as an honorable and 
necessary calling under the state, and the Holy Scriptures repeatedly 
commend the faith and character of righteous soldiers.

Chapter 4

The Distinction Between Personal Vengeance And Civil Administration

Matthew 26:52—"Then Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword back into its 
place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.'" (Matthew 
26:52 ESV)

"Put Your Sword Back Into Its Place." Peter was a private individual 
acting without civil authority. He drew a physical weapon to resist a 
lawful, government-sanctioned arrest. Jesus' rebuke of Peter condemns 
private vengeance and lawless violence, but it does not forbid the 
lawful, defensive use of the sword by the state.

Romans 12:19—"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the 
wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says 
the Lord.'" (Romans 12:19 ESV)

"Never Avenge Yourselves." The individual believer is commanded never to 
seek personal revenge. Instead, they must leave room for God's wrath. 
The very next sentences of Scripture reveal exactly how God executes 
this wrath on earth—namely, through the civil ruler, who is "the servant 
of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer" (Romans 
13:4 ESV).

Matthew 5:44—"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who 
persecute you." (Matthew 5:44 ESV)

"Love Your Enemies." This command governs the personal attitude of a 
Christian toward those who mistreat him for his faith. It does not strip 
the civil government of its obligation to defend the nation or punish 
criminals. A soldier acting under the authority of the state is 
executing civil justice, not pursuing personal hatred.

Proposition: The Scriptures forbid private citizens from taking 
vengeance into their own hands, but they command the civil government to 
use the sword to protect its citizens and punish evil.

Chapter 5

The Fruits Of False Professors Do Not Invalidate God's Word

Matthew 7:15-16—"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's 
clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by 
their fruits." (Matthew 7:15-16 ESV)

"You Will Recognize Them By Their Fruits." Historical atrocities 
committed in the name of Christ, were not the actions of true biblical 
disciples, but of "false prophets" and "ravenous wolves" who wore the 
garments of religion but did not obey the Word of God.

Titus 1:16—"They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. 
They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work." (Titus 1:16 ESV)

"They Deny Him By Their Works." The fact that ungodly men have abused 
their positions to wage bloody, unbiblical wars does not prove that 
lawful national defense is sinful. It simply proves that those who 
committed these atrocities were hypocrites who denied God by their actions.

Proposition: The sinful actions and unscriptural wars waged by false 
religious systems throughout history do not compromise the true 
teachings of the Bible, but rather fulfill its warnings concerning 
apostasy and false teachers.

-- 
Good News †

Jesus is God: christrose.news/Jesus-God.

The true, saving gospel strictly mandates that Christ died for our sins 
and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Galatians 1:8-9). All 
other gospels are completely false and carry people into conscious, 
eternal torment in the lake of fire (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; John 3:36; 
Revelation 14:10-11; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10-15). You will 
certainly die in your sins if you deny Jesus is God (John 8:58).

Christ paid our entire sin debt to God on the cross (Colossians 2:14), 
and God gave absolute proof of this by raising Him from the dead (Romans 
1:4). God now pardons our sins without compromising His own 
righteousness (Romans 3:26), saving us from His coming judgment (1 
Thessalonians 1:10). This is a completely free gift reserved for those 
who trust in Christ (Romans 6:23). Believe in your heart and call out to 
the Lord to be saved (Romans 10:9-13):

How to be saved: christrose.news/salvation