Resist not evil

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Dialectic manipulates by "creating opposing sides to form a framework to guide the thoughts and actions of society".

Jesus appears to tell us to resist not evil in Matthew 5:39, "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."

Peter seems to be telling us to "resist" evil in 1 Peter 5:9, "Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."

Is there a conflict?

Are we taking this phrase of resist evil out of the context of the author's meaning?

Jesus is clearly relating this to a direct instruction about a particular way of resisting. He is actually telling us to not resist evil by using force, waging war, or doing battle with the evil forces of the world.

Peter is using the same Greek term in 1 Peter 5:9, "Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."

Again Peter is talking to brethren who are in the world but not of the world.

In James 4:7 we are told to resist the devil, "Submit[1] yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." But again he qualifies the manner of our resistance as submitting ourselves to God rather than submitting to the devil.

The Greek term from which these verses get the word resist is anthistemi[2] which literally means "stand against".

These instructions are about the way in which we stand against evil. Jesus qualified that resistance not to include fighting back as an opposing force in the same manner in which we may be attacked. He is not saying that we should not stand against evil but rather explaining the manner in which we should stand against evil and should not stand against evil.

This is why reading Peter's instructions concerning the manner of our resistance. It is not standing toe to toe with "your adversary the devil" of the world indirect hating vicious combat but resisting by standing in faith and love. The love of God is not a desire for something but it is the utility of the creating power God. Darkness is the absence of light and hate is the absence of love. Since hate leads to fear then fear is the absence of faith. By this same spiritual formula you cannot have love without forgiveness. When you do not forgive you are usurping God's judgement which cuts you off from the utility of His love.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (1 Peter 5:8)

Peter uses the word for sober that means calm and collected to the spirit of God.[3] Peter is talking to the Brethren who did not seek the cove Benefits of Benefactors who exercised authority and often persecuted during the Christian conflict with Rome. The Corban of Christ conflicted with the sacrifices of Rome and the Pharisees because they were based in faith, hope, and charity which sets men free according to the perfect law of liberty rather than force, fear, and fealty which brings them back into the bondage of Egypt. Early Christians practiced Pure Religion rather than Public religion of the world of men like Cain, Nimrod, Pharaoh, Caesar, and FDR.

"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:5-7)

God cared for Israel when the armies of Pharaoh sought to destroy them. They stood with Moses with faith in God and He was their deliverer.

And Moses with Jannes and Jambres[4] did not strike them down by his own hand.

We see this power of God again with Ananias and Peter in Acts 5:5 "And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things."

We again see this Greek word anthistemi often translated resist in Ephesians 6:13 "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand (anthistemi) in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

So what is the Armour of God?

"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" (Ephesians 6:14-18)

In Romans 13:2 see the word "resisteth" twice but they are different words in the Greek text:

"Whosoever therefore resisteth (antitassomai) the power, resisteth (anthistemi) the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation."

Both antitassomai and anthistemi are verbs but antitassomai[5] means "to range in battle against".

Care for one another by the Perfect law of liberty.

The primary and The Blessed Strategy called The Way of Christ was the alternative to warring against evil forces in the world:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Socialism is the redistribution of wealth by force and the antitheses of charity. It is the Corban of the Pharisees that makes the word of God to none effect. It is the sacrifice that cuts man off from the love of God degenerating the souls of men into perfect savages until all liberty is gone and they have once more a monarch and a master.

We were and are to seek to be ruled by God in our hearts and minds [6] and therefore in our actions. This righteousness comes with His Spirit living in us but for that to take place we must become compatible with His name or nature. This is why we must forgive and give but also resist not evil.[7]

This does not mean that we take no stand against evil but that we take that stand outside of their three dimensional box of the dialectic. We need a wider dimension that binds us within the law of nature and Nature's God through the fundamental elements of Christ's life.

We should take no side except the side of righteousness.[8]

We are called to “occupy” and follow The Way of Christ.

It is not the evil in the Illuminati or Freemasonry, the Nazi or the Zionist, the New World Order or the tyrants and despots of the World, but it is the evil in our own hearts that must be purged if we are to free souls under God. Modern Christians have not been following The Way of Christ.

Early Christianity was called The Way. It was a way of love and sacrifice, of forgiving and giving.

In Luke 19:13[9] we see the master give ten people some capital to work with and he told them occupy,[10] meaning to be occupied in anything including business. This was not the business of robbing with inflation, cheating with unjust weights and measures or devouring widows houses with inheritance taxes and the like. Nor was it coveting those that have in Welfare Schemes that makes us surety and merchandise.

"Settle [it] therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." (Luke 21:14-15)

If we are to resist evil it should be by a faith that compels us to walk in the way of Christ which was the way of service and love, forgiveness and release. Is that the way you have been going while seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness?

People followed Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist and Jesus. The altars of clay and stone was a way to create the social bonds of free people. The levites led the Israelites. And the early Church followed Christ and His Way, which was The Way, and advocated a Daily ministration that was dependent on Pure Religion through Fervent charity only. This was the Corban of Christ which was not like the system of Corban of the Pharisees nor of Rome or the systems of FDR and LBJ.
The church lost "the way" when it abandoned the practice of "pure Religion" while claiming to be the Church established by Christ. The people developed an appetite for the "wages of unrighteousness" from "public religion" in the days of Constantine. Those new Christians that often failed to fully repent degenerated the moral character of society with the masses of "instant christians".
That new religion of the emperor introduced a new faith with his apostate church replacing the doctrine of Jesus with the "doctrines of men", the Holy Spirit with emotion, the truth with the speaking of "great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage."[11]
They had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof.

Where is your religion

  • Do you only gather for the comfort it gives you, or do you gather to benefit others?
  • Christ came to serve, not be served. Do you desire to be served, or are you coming in His name and according to His character to serve others?

If we desire His Grace but we only love those who love us, then there is no Grace because it is clear we do not really believe in Him.

If we do not Repent of our Covetous Practices and are not diligently gathering together in Free Assemblies of Love for all to provide for one another in Charity according to the Perfect law of liberty then we have nothing according to Paul. According to Luke 6:32 if we only love those who love us there is no "Grace". Christ also said if you do not Forgive neither will the Father forgive you.[12]

It is not enough to hate the deeds of the workers of iniquity, but we must return to Thy first love and thy first work. To break the yoke, we need to return to the ways of righteousness spoken of in Isaiah 58 which are the ways of Christ and the early Church. And His yoke is light for it is carried by our love of one another.

Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist and Christ all created Networks of charity to care for the true needy of society without force which is how they were able to help set people free. Do you gather with His Church to attend to the Weightier matters as Christ said?

  • Are you gathering in a Network of righteousness?
  • Do you come to love others or just be loved?

Early Christians found themselves in conflict with these systems of social welfare because they made the word of God to none effect. Christians had repented of their covetous nature when they received the Baptism of Christ. They heard and became Doers of the word not hearers only.

Remember Proverbs 12:24, "The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the Slothful shall be under Tribute."

We know that liberty under God is not for the covetous who are Biting one another but it is also not for the slothful. If we are not congregating together in free assemblies bound together in a broad network by faith, hope, and charity alone according to the perfect law of liberty then we are not truly seeking the Kingdom of God nor His righteousness.


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Footnotes

  1. 5293 ~ὑποτάσσω~ hupotasso \@hoop-ot-as’-so\@ from 5259 and 5021; Tasso/Hupotasso in the Greek is a form of the Hebrew root, “KafNunAyin" 03665.”TDNT-8:39,1156; {See TDNT 784} v AV-put under 6, be subject unto 6, be subject to 5, submit (one’s) self unto 5, submit (one’s) self to 3, be in subjection unto 2, put in subjection under 1, misc 12; 40
    1) to arrange under, to subordinate
    2) to subject, put in subjection
    3) to subject one’s self, obey
    4) to submit to one’s control
    5) to yield to one’s admonition or advice
    6) to obey, be subject
    A Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden".
  2. 436 ~ἀνθίστημι~ anthistemi \@anth-is’-tay-mee\@ from 473 (against) and 2476 (stand); ; v AV-resist 9, withstand 5; 14
    1) to set one’s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose
    2) to set against
    Which appears in Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist <436> not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
    Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist <436>.
    Acts 6:10 And they were not able to resist <436> the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
    Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood <436> them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
    Romans 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted <436> his will?
    Romans 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth <436> the ordinance of God: and they that resist <436> shall receive to themselves damnation.
    Galatians 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood <436> him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
    Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand <436> in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
    2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood <436> Moses, so do <436> these also resist <436> the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
    2 Timothy 4:15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath <436> greatly withstood <436> our words.
    James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist <436> the devil, and he will flee from you.
    1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist <436> stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."
  3. 3525 ~νήφω~ nepho \@nay’-fo\@ of uncertain affinity; TDNT-4:936,633; {See TDNT 522} v AV-be sober 4, watch 2; 6
    1) to be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit
    2) to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect
  4. 2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
  5. 498 ~ἀντιτάσσομαι~ antitassomai \@an-tee-tas’-som-ahee\@ from 473 and the middle voice of 5021; ; v AV-resist 4, oppose (one’s) self 1; 5
    1) to range in battle against
    2) to oppose one’s self, resist
  6. Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
    • Hebrews 8:10 For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
    • Hebrews 10:16 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
    • Jeremiah 31:33 But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
    • Proverbs 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
  7. "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matthew 5:39
  8. Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
  9. “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” Luke 19:13
  10. pragmateuomai pragmateuomai v 1) to be occupied in anything 2) to carry on a business
  11. 5622 ὠφέλεια opheleia [o-fel’-i-ah] from a derivative of the base of 5624 profitable; n f; AV-profit 1, advantage 1; 2
    1) usefulness, advantage, profit
  12. Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
    Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.