Blessed is the One Nation Under God Who is Their Lord
Mottos are quaint, but they must be scrutinized for actually communicating truth. Scripture is true, but interpretation of Scripture must be scrutinized for actually representing the truth.
There is one God (Dt 6:4), who is Lord of all (Acts 10:36). He is King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Tim 6:15). Nations should all bow down in obedience and worship (Is 45:23; Rom 14:11; Phil 2:10). Instead, the nations all rage against the Lord and His anointed (Ps 2:1–2). Instead of receiving the blessing of God their Maker, they receive the curse of God for endless disobedience to the Law of God, which is holy, spiritual, good, and right (Ex 20; Dt 5).
The pride of any nation, in claiming to be exceptional because it is “blessed” by God, demands a diagnosis. Pride goes before the fall and comes with destruction (Prv 11:2; 16:18). We acknowledge that not all nations are created equal but blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord (Ps 33:12). So, which nation unashamedly declares that Jesus Christ is Lord?
The Bible recognizes one holy nation under God’s grace and blessing. It is a nation of royal priests, and its citizens are the chosen people of God (1 Pet 2:9). God graciously chose this remnant of people (Rom 11:5), and the Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19). He chose us; we did not choose Him (Jn 15:16). In love, God the Father chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4–5), writing the names of the elect in the Lamb’s book of life before Creation (Rev 13:8; 17:8). These are the names of those people God the Father had given to God the Son for redemption (Jn 6:37; 17:2, 6, 24).
In setting His love upon this nation of people (Dt 7:7; Rom 5:5), drawn from every nation, tribe, and tongue — both Jews and Gentiles — God’s intention was for His beloved to be holy and blameless before Him, forever (Eph 1:4; 5:27; Col 1:22). In order to create this holy nation of royal priests, God did more than elect them to adoption as sons (Rom 8:15, 23), He sent His only begotten Son to redeem them from slavery to sin (Jn 3:16; Rom 6:6; 16–20). In coming into the world to save God’s chosen people from their sins (Mt 1:21), Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3).
God was in Christ reconciling His people from around the world and across history to Himself (2 Cor 5:19). The sacrifice of the Lamb of God was an atonement for sin (Lev 16; Jn 1:29), drawing the wrath of God to Himself (Rom 5:9). God accepted Christ’s substitution of Himself, and this was demonstrated by His raising Jesus from the dead (Acts 17:31) and receiving Him at His own right hand on the glorious throne of God in heaven (Ps 110:1; Acts 2:33; Rev 7:17).
In gathering His holy nation of chosen people, God sent His Spirit to baptize, regenerate, indwell, abide, and fill those who belong to Christ (Jn 10:26; 1 Cor 3:23). These beloved ones are transferred from Satan’s dominion, the domain of darkness, and into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Acts 26:18; Col 1:13). The kingdom of God on earth is wherever the Spirit is occupying (Rom 14:17). As noted, the adopted child of God is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19–20; Eph 2:20–22), making the worship of the Father to be in the Spirit and in truth rather than a physical location (Acts 4:23).
The one nation under God in the world, today, is the Spirit-filled church of Christ, which is called, “the Israel of God” (Gal 6:16). There is no other nation under God, occupied by men, that is saved from the wrath of God to come (Jn 3:36; 1 Thess 1:10). Therefore, our sole allegiance is to King and country. Our King is Jesus Christ, the King of glory (Ps 24). Our better country is heavenly (Heb 11:16), for which we serve as ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20), pleading with men on His behalf, “Be reconciled to God, by repenting of your sins, and humbly trust Christ, the one and only Savior of sinners, for the forgiveness of your sins and for eternal life.”
When God has gathered the last of His own people from this world in darkness, then the end shall come. All the wicked nations will be summoned for war against the Dread Champion of heaven (Ps 110:5–6; Jer 20:11), who is Christ the Lord. His coming again will be a terror to the unredeemed peoples of the earth, from every generation, who will be raised from the dead for judgment on the Day of the Lord (Jn 5:28–29; 1 Thess 4:13–5:11; Rev 19:11–21).
Judgment Day will be a day of sentencing for the already condemned humanity (Jn 3:18), from throughout history, who will be escorted to hell and the lake of fire for eternity (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15). Judgment Day will also be for the destruction of the heavens and the earth (2 Pet 3:10–12), for our God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29). Thus, the destruction of nations will be complete under the vengeance of God, who promised to repay the wicked for all their evil deeds done in hatred for God (Gen 6:5; Jn 3:19; Rom 1:30).
My dear reader, have you examined your allegiances in reading this exhortation to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31)? It is my prayer for you that you have recognized your citizenship to be in heaven. You may have been born a citizen of some country in the world, but the children of God acknowledge that they are in the world but not of the world. For the kingdom of this world and the ruler of this world (Jn 12:30; 14:31; 16:11), in this present evil age, are only waiting for the inclusion of the sons of God into the kingdom of heaven.
It is imperative for you to believe God’s report of His just judgment and coming wrath (Is 53:1; Mt 3:7; Lk 3:7). It is equally important for you to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work in life and death. He has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and has been enthroned at the right hand of Majesty to rule and reign with all power, wisdom, and authority (Ps 110:3; Mt 28:18).
Finally, Christian, you must also check your allegiance. Although you have a place in this world, you must remember you are an ambassador of another place, serving Him and His kingdom. The double-minded citizen of New Jerusalem is unstable in the city of man because his message is mixed, causing confusion.
Let us be clear to whom our love and allegiance are fully devoted. We are devoted to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, and who will soon summon you home to give an account of your stewardship (2 Cor 5:10). Therefore, put on Christ Jesus and be dressed in readiness to meet the Lord and give an account of your love for King and country — the one above.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
July 5, 2022
