The Dispensation of Grace and the Limits of “Christian Nationalism”

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

—1 Timothy 4:8

“Christian nationalism” is a buzzword in our society these days, and from the people that are up in arms talking about it, I think that I probably should be for it. Afterall, when the ungodly attack, it is most likely that they are really showing their animosity toward God, not their zealousness for sound doctrine.

So what does this have to do with 1 Timothy 4:8?

Christian nationalism is attempting to change society to conform to the word of God as it should be conformed. The problem is that it is much like bodily exercise. We all should know that keeping physically fit is a good idea. We also should know that we can’t stop the law of sin and death, and that as physically fit as we can possibly be, we are still under the curse of sin and death.

We see it in our physical fitness as we get older too. At almost 50, I cannot even compare to my physical fitness at 16, 18, or 20. It doesn’t even matter how much exercise I get or how regular my gym visits are, I just will not be there. I also at 18 never woke up every morning sore as I do now. Often, mornings now feel worse than after high school football games.

Trying to reform society to make it Christian is much the same way during the time of this present evil world in which we are now living (Galatians 1:4). Christ gave Himself for us, not to deliver this present evil world, but to deliver us from it.

Do I want to live in a Christian society? Absolutely! But I know scripturally the limits of this endeavor. This is not the dispensation of God’s government, but of God’s grace. His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). Sin and death reign today (Romans 5:12–21) God wants to save man from the wreck man has made of this world, and He does save those who put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, Paul’s exhortation: “Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Do we want things as good as they can possibly be? Yes. The Puritans in England, coming to the New World and establishing New England wanted that too. There was success for a time but if we go to New England now and observe the “centers of higher education” that they established, what can we say?

The failure is not because they didn’t do a good job or because a few good Christians today could do better. We could correct some of their doctrine and try again, and we would still eventually arrive at the same failure.

The failure is because of what the heart of mankind is — desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). It is because of what man is and what is in man. It is because the carnal mind is enmity against God (Romans 8:7).

Much like the human body over time, so is human society. It goes downhill, even with the best superintendence. We can make things better and slow down the decline, but it is still a decline. In the Apostle Paul’s second epistle to Timothy, he tells us how the present evil world will end:

2 Timothy 3:1–7 — “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

I appreciate those that want to honor the Lord in society and in government. As an American citizen, I appreciate that I have a right to vote, and I vote for those that stand up for godliness and truth in government.

As a Christian who believes the Bible and knows where we are in God’s time, I know the limits and while I’m sometimes disappointed in people, I don’t hope in a future where society finally gets it right, but I look for the Lord and live accordingly:

Titus 2:11–14 — “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

There will be a day that the world will be under the dispensation of God’s government. The government will be on the shoulder of the Lord Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6) and there will be no contest as to who is in charge. He will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). He will not rule by consent but with a rod of iron and the stubborn nations of this world will be broken by His rod of iron (Revelation 19:15; Psalm 2:9).

While no nation today is God’s chosen nation, a nation can have the Lord Jesus Christ as its chosen God, and that nation will be blessed providentially for in that it will be a place that is good to live in. Doing things God’s way always is beneficial for an individual and a nation because God knows what is best. But our hope does not lie in society getting better but it rests in the Lord and His return for us.

With our own bodies, whether we come to accept it or not, we know the course of things. We also know the course of this world. Our hope is to meet the Lord in the air and to forever be with Him, not in failing humans making a better world for Him to break like a potter’s vessel.

He will fix the world. We need to live godly in it, despite of what it is and if we can make a better place to live temporarily, so be it. But this is not our hope or our goal. Our conversation is in heaven, as is our hope.

Philippians 3:20–21 — “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.”

That is when our society, i.e., conversation or citizenship, will be what it should be, and our bodies will be what they should be.

As we are in this world, we live for the Lord Jesus Christ, not as strangers and pilgrims, but as His ambassadors calling all people everywhere to be reconciled to Him.

Acts 17:30–31 — “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.”

We can be reconciled to Him because He was made sin for us.

2 Corinthians 5:18–21 — “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

Christ died for our sins to save us from the penalty of them. Our future without Him is in the lake of fire but with Him our future is to be forever with Him. Christ died for our sins to deliver us from the power of darkness and of sin over us. Christ died for us to deliver us from this present evil world. Christ died for us to make us a peculiar people zealous of good works and we should pursue His goodness with all that we have. Christ died for our enemies too, and for those that stand against us. He also has called them to be reconciled to Him and our enmities will be dissolved when they become right with Him. They can only become right with Him in His way, receiving as a gift “the righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ” (Romans 3:22), given to all who will simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved (Acts 16:31).

God is right now making His righteousness available to all that will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and He will give the gift of eternal life to all who believe as well. God has made the way, and His way is the only way. He will show in His time who is the “blessed and only Potentate, King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15).

That is a wonderful hope to us who believe and therefore are in Christ. If you are not in Christ, your future is foretold and it is not good. It does not have to stay that way. Jesus Christ our Lord died for your sins too and you could have the glorious future that He has promised to those who believe in Him if you will come to Him in His way.

Romans 3:21–26 — “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

If you are standing against the Lord Jesus Christ, put away your rebellion and believe on Him to everlasting life. Christ died for your sins and rose from the dead. Put your faith in Him!