I posted this (copy & paste) on another thread as I veered off the main focus of the Topic a bit, it is something I believe we should consider when we get bogged down in worldly issues and problems, sometimes forgetting "My yoke is light" and that He is our source of strength and whether we presently understand His purpose or reasoning at this time or not. He is in control of all things.
All through the Old Testament we read of vengeance, hate, retribution by many of the Patriarchs and physical Israel, what do we read about vengeance in the New Testament?
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
And also we must not forget,
1Pe 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
We are not of this world if we follow Him, going back to worldly debates and immersing ourselves in its politics and spitefulness is not the way to grow unto perfection.
It is not my intention to get preachy or self righteous or that I am setting myself up as a teacher (heaven forbid) this is only an attempt to give all of us the peace that is trusting in Him, to sort this all out.
Only a year ago I was a right wing get the thugs, blow 'em up kind of guy, I listened to news programs constantly, yelling at the tube or radio if I did not agree, I resembled a lunatic, I was more extreme than most anybody I knew. Now having His peace, life is better, much better. It is hard at times, if I don't have my armor on and I backslide and return to my carnal ways I am miserable, the worst kind of anxiety is self induced.
We all know how many denominations are gung ho pro war pro country, patriotism and all that, remember what Jesus said in regard to following Him?
Here is the copy and paste from Lake of Fire Part XI;
"For the Law was given by Moses [that would be the OLD Covenant], but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ [that would be the NEW Covenant]" (John 1:17).
Law is good, but grace and truth is better. Grace and truth is a much more demanding and much higher calling. If you aspire to be among the "chosen" you must learn what the New Covenant really is. Here is a chart we prepared for Michael Vinson's paper on The Law, which shows some of the many differences between the Old and the New Covenants—between Moses and Jesus:
Old Mosaic Covenant
New Spiritual Covenant
OLD Covenant…II Cor. 3:14
NEW Covenant…II Cor. 3:6
FIRST Covenant…Heb. 8:7,9:1
SECOND Covenant…Heb. 8:7,10:1-9
Came by Moses…John 1:17
Came by Christ…Heb. 8:6,9:15
Law of God in STONE…II Cor. 3:3
Law of God in HEART…Heb. 10:16
Law of MOSES…Acts 13:38-39
Law of CHRIST…Gal. 6:2
Law of the flesh…Rom. 7:5-6
Law of the SPIRIT…Rom. 8:2
NOT of faith…Gal. 3:2
Law of FAITH…Rom. 3:27
Yoke of BONDAGE…Gal. 5:1
Law of LIBERTY…James 1:25
Law of SIN…Rom. 7:5-6
Law of RIGHTEOUSNESS…Rom. 9:30-31
Law of DEATH…II Cor. 3:7
Law of LIFE…Gal. 3:11, 6:8
Christ removes OLD…Heb. 10:9
Christ enacted the NEW…Heb.10:9
A SHADOW…Col. 2:14-17
The REALITY…Heb. 10:1-18
FULFILLED…Matt. 5:17-18
NOW IN FORCE…Heb. 8:6,10:9
Priesthood CHANGED…Heb. 7:12
UNCHANGEABLE Priesthood…Heb. 7:24
MANY sacrifices…Heb. 9:12-13
ONE sacrifice for sin…Heb. 10:12
IMPERFECT…Heb. 7:19
PERFECT…Heb. 7:19
Blood of ANIMALS…Heb. 9:19
Blood of CHRIST…Matt. 26:28
Circumcision…Ex. 12:48
Uncircumcision…Rom. 4:9-12
WORKS of law…Gal. 3:10
NOT of works but GRACE…Eph. 2:8
REMEMBERS sins…Heb. 10:3
FORGETS sins…Heb. 10:17
YEARLY atonement…Heb. 10:3
PERMANENT atonement…Heb. 10:4
SINFUL priests…Heb. 5:3
SINLESS priest…Heb. 7:26
AARONIC priesthood…Heb. 7:11
MELCHISEDEC priest…Heb. 5:5-10
MANMADE tabernacle…Heb. 8:5
HEAVENLY tabernacle…Heb. 8:2,11
Out of LEVI…Heb. 7:11
Out of JUDAH…Heb. 7:14
WEAK, UNPROFITABLE…Heb. 7:18
POWER of ENDLESS LIFE…Heb. 7:16
NO inheritance…Rom. 4:13
ETERNAL inheritance…Heb. 9:15
Sacrifice of ANIMALS…Heb. 9:13
Sacrifice of CHRIST…Heb. 9:28
Purified the FLESH…Heb. 8:13
Purged the CONSCIENCE…Heb. 8:14
PRODUCES wrath…Rom. 4:15
SAVES from wrath…Rom. 5:9
Perfected NOTHING…Heb. 7:19
Perfects BELIEVERS…Heb. 10:14
NO MERCY…Heb. 10:28
COMPLETE MERCY…Heb. 8:12
NO justification…Acts 13:39
BELIEVERS justified…Acts 13:39
BRINGS a curse…Gal. 3:10
REDEEMS from curse…Acts 3:13
ABOLISHED…II Cor. 3:13
CONTINUES IN GLORY…II Cor. 3:11
Brought DEATH…II Cor. 3:7
Brought RECONCILIATION…II Cor. 5:18
ISRAEL ONLY…Deut. 4:7-8,5:3
ALL MANKIND…Mark 14:24, II Cor. 5:14-19
This chart by no means exhausts all the differences between the Old and New Covenants. Can you not see how totally different the New is from the Old? As God’s Word says, the New Covenant is, "NOT ACCORDING to the covenant that I made with their fathers…" (Heb. 8:9). When will we believe God instead of the traditions of men? I hope that you will not just look at this chart, but look up every Scripture and read it for yourself.
If you believe in Jesus Christ, you are in the Church. But if you are in Christ Jesus, then you are no longer in the physical carnal church, but in God’s spiritual Church—the very Body of Christ. Let me assure you on the authority of all the Sacred Scriptures that carnal [enmity filled hatred] minded Christians are not members of the spiritual body of Christ. Jesus Christ is preparing a "bride"—a VIRGIN bride. Our Lord will not marry a whore or prostitute.