Justification by Allegiance

1. Question: Why don't people want to become Christians when all they have to do is "believe" the Gospel
   1. "Gospel" means "good news"
   2. The "good news" is: you can go to heaven if you believe "the gospel."
   3. So why don't more people just say, "OK, God, I believe that I'm going to heaven when I die"?
2. Answer: Because everyone knows in his heart that he is required to stop sinning, and most people don't want to stop sinning.
   1. "No, no, all you have to do is "believe" and you're going to heaven."
   2. But what about these verses, which require us to "repent" (stop sinning):
      1. Matthew 3:2; Matthew 3:7-8; 4:17; 9:13; Mark 1:4; Mark 1:15; 2:17; 6:12
      2. Luke 3:3; 5:32; 10:13; 13:1-5; 15:1-10; 18:10-14; 24:47
      3. Acts 2:38; Acts 2:40; 3:19; 5:31; 8:22; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20; Romans 2:4
      4. 2 Timothy 2:25; James 4:8-10
      5. Revelation 2:5; Revelation 3:2-3; Revelation 3:19
3. The Bible says our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:17-20)
   • ¹⁷ Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.¹⁸ For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. ²⁰ For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
   • Therefore just as a naturalized American citizen must renounce his allegiance to his old government and swear an oath of allegiance to obey the laws of the United States, a Christian must renounce his allegiance to himself (autonomy) and swear allegiance to God and His Laws (Theonomy).
   • I propose a new paradigm to replace "Justification by Faith," which all too often means "justification by mere belief."

"Justification by Allegiance."