To understand modern politics as fully as possible, we have
returned to the original establishment of politics found in the Bible. The foundational
answers we seek are found in the book of Genesis.
| Back to the Beginning |
As previously stated, the fall of mankind because of sin led
to a new relationship with God. The need for reconciliation and its recognition
demands that all men approach God according to His standard, which He makes
known to them. The blood sacrifice of an unblemished innocent animal of God’s
choosing is required to temporarily atone for an individual’s sin and maintain
fellowship with a holy God.
| God's requirement for Fellowship and Atonement for sin are established |
Cain rejected this standard and desired to replace it with
his own. When approached by God, Cain is offered the authority of ruling over
sinners and their sinful acts. Scripture doesn’t reveal that Cain officially
accepted God’s offer at this time, however, his actions toward his brother Abel
set the tone for what is to transpire into business as usual within the
political realm of sin management.
Traditionally, it has been promoted that Cain’s action
toward Abel was nothing more than murder in a jealous rage.
| Cain Kills Abel - Was it just plain murder? |
Fortunately, the Scriptures reveal quite a bit more than
just an emotionally driven jealousy. In fact, we find an ample amount of detail
not usually considered. These details help us to understand the character of
politics as ordained by God Himself from the beginning.
First it is revealed that what God mentions first is the
fact of “the voice” of Abel’s blood “crying out from the ground.” Since other
Scripture reveals that “the life of the flesh is in the blood,” it is important
that what God is recognizing is physical life being synonymous with the blood.
Therefore, the shedding of man’s blood by mankind is a serious offense, not
taken lightly by God.
The most startling detail comes from the book of Hebrews. It’s
a comparison between one aspect of Jesus and Cain; blood. Chapter 12, verse 24
says, “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the sprinkling of
blood, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”
The context of this verse within Hebrews and it’s teaching
on blood is the sacrificial shedding of blood, specifically, the sprinkling of
shed blood on a sacrificial altar. The Law details the requirements of God for
sin’s atonement through blood sacrifice. The sacrificial blood of bulls and
goats typifies the future ultimate blood sacrifice of The Lamb of God which
would be enough to cover the sin of the entire world. It is within this context
that we find this reference to Abel’s blood. The only way this comparison works
is if Abel’s blood was shed by Cain in sacrifice upon an altar.
Is this rather startling? It should be. But this is nothing
more than the beginning of revelation from Scripture regarding the founding of
this World system, with its rulers ordained by God. In fact, Paul’s words to
Timothy prior to his execution reveal the same mindset as Cain. In II Timothy
4:6, Paul says, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure
is at hand.”
| Jesus Offered Himself by the hands of the Romans - He ordained them |
What a strange statement! Notice that Paul does not say that
he is ready to offer himself. He said that he is ready to be offered. The
significance in this lies in the fact that a sacrifice is always offered by
another. The sacrifice does not shed his own blood, even though that person may
make his blood available for such an activity. The blood of sacrifice is always
shed by another. In the case of Paul, that would be the Caesar and his Roman
government, for Caesar was the official executioner of Paul as well as Jesus,
the Lamb of God, just as Cain was the official executioner of Abel. This unique
relationship speaks volumes about the political structure of this World system and
the relationship of God’s People to that Government.
More details to Come………………………………..
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