1 00:00:05,419 --> 00:00:15,300 Greetings, this is Pastor David Bass at New Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church with a moment of truth where we challenge you to think through an important issue of life and faith. 2 00:00:15,300 --> 00:00:25,920 And today, why is spiritual revival and reformation the one necessary key to unlock a Christian constitutional republic? 3 00:00:26,940 --> 00:00:31,320 Oh, spiritual revival and reformation, so, so necessary. 4 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:43,039 Now, for many weeks, I have been arguing for a Christian constitutional republic to take the place of our now hopelessly lost secular constitutional republic. 5 00:00:43,039 --> 00:00:50,240 It's been a difficult and arduous conclusion for me to reach, but I think it's a necessary one. 6 00:00:50,240 --> 00:01:07,680 Because through neglect and laziness, we Americans have allowed the corrupt, corpulent, deep state to so suffuse and become identified with the constitutional republic that the two can no longer be separated. 7 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:17,340 Like a cancer that is metastasized throughout the vital organs of the body politic, to cut the deep state out would kill the patient. 8 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:22,319 To cut off one head of a conjoined twin would kill them both, wouldn't it? 9 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:34,900 These rationales you will find in previous broadcasts at our website, which catalogs our radio program almost four years back. 10 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:39,420 That can be found on the website, omnisprotestas.org. 11 00:01:39,420 --> 00:01:49,780 That's O-M-N-I-S dash, P-O-T-E-S-T-A-S dot org, omnisprotestas.org. 12 00:01:49,939 --> 00:02:05,000 And I encourage you to check out those previous radio broadcasts that do catalog these things and many, many other broadcasts which chronicle our understanding of a Christian constitutional republic. 13 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:21,879 And I think that eventually everyone will reach this conclusion because the entire dead and dying deep state must be completely destroyed, burnt to the ground, leveled so that no one stone will be left upon another, as Jesus said about Jerusalem. 14 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:29,520 This may be a controversial statement because there are today three kinds of patriots in our country. 15 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:34,879 Number one, there are Pollyanna patriots, I call them, Pollyanna patriots. 16 00:02:35,539 --> 00:02:45,939 Pollyanna was a naive teenage girl who always saw the positive side of life, thought that everyone meant well, and thought everything would end well if we were just nice to everyone and stayed positive. 17 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,740 Most Americans adopt this attitude towards government. 18 00:02:50,500 --> 00:02:53,520 And then there are, secondly, course correction constitutionalists. 19 00:02:54,819 --> 00:02:56,879 Course correction constitutionalists. 20 00:02:56,879 --> 00:03:04,199 Listen, I used to be one of these because I used to think, well, it's not the document or the system of the constitution that needs to be changed. 21 00:03:04,199 --> 00:03:10,639 Rather, the people's hearts, their minds, their lives must change in order for the constitution to work. 22 00:03:11,259 --> 00:03:17,500 John Adams said famously, this constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. 23 00:03:17,699 --> 00:03:20,800 It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. 24 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:27,139 So then, revive and reform the people, and the constitution will operate as it's supposed to. 25 00:03:27,599 --> 00:03:31,340 Make this course correction, and we will be back on track. 26 00:03:31,419 --> 00:03:33,000 I used to be one of these, for sure. 27 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:35,939 Spent years articulating that very thing. 28 00:03:36,599 --> 00:03:38,800 And then thirdly, there's the Christian constitutionalist. 29 00:03:39,500 --> 00:03:40,580 I am one of those now. 30 00:03:40,580 --> 00:03:49,340 Because part of the reason we are off track at the present is due to an inherent flaw in the constitution from the beginning. 31 00:03:49,340 --> 00:03:56,240 That is, it's failure to acknowledge the true supreme authority of the republic. 32 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:59,280 And that is Jesus Christ, not the people. 33 00:04:00,340 --> 00:04:01,719 Oh, we the people. 34 00:04:01,719 --> 00:04:08,060 No, it is Christ the king who ordains and establishes our constitution. 35 00:04:08,759 --> 00:04:13,060 A covenant, which the constitution is, essentially, it is a covenant. 36 00:04:13,340 --> 00:04:19,540 It's a blood bond between two parties, one of whom is a suzerain and the other of whom is a vassal. 37 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:26,819 And that vassal or servant must always acknowledge the suzerain or king if ever the covenant is to work. 38 00:04:26,819 --> 00:04:32,579 And the original constitution of 1789 presents us with a circular dilemma. 39 00:04:32,759 --> 00:04:37,980 That is, the people is both the suzerain and the vassal of the same document. 40 00:04:38,139 --> 00:04:39,399 That's a circular dilemma. 41 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,500 And it's ultimately self-serving. 42 00:04:42,860 --> 00:04:46,720 When there are two parties to a covenant, one serves the other mutually. 43 00:04:47,259 --> 00:04:51,600 When the two parties honor the terms laid out in the covenant, well, it works. 44 00:04:52,139 --> 00:04:53,779 Now, this is possible. 45 00:04:53,779 --> 00:04:58,120 When Christ is the king of the constitution and the people are the servants of the constitution. 46 00:04:58,579 --> 00:05:05,920 But when there is one party to a covenant, as there is in our constitution, the people, then the people serve whom? 47 00:05:06,199 --> 00:05:08,199 The people serve the people. 48 00:05:08,420 --> 00:05:10,220 We serve ourselves, ultimately. 49 00:05:10,540 --> 00:05:16,519 And that always eventually descends into a self-serving chaos and tyranny. 50 00:05:16,519 --> 00:05:24,759 Additionally, there is in the nature of the case a polarity in every covenant designed to be a polarity. 51 00:05:24,939 --> 00:05:28,720 That is, there is at one end a suzerain and at the other a vassal. 52 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,199 At one end a king, at the other a servant. 53 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,759 And if it is not there to begin with, it will develop over time. 54 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:37,420 And that's what's happened to us. 55 00:05:37,420 --> 00:05:47,540 The homogenous people has evolved over the centuries into the polarized deep state at one end and the people at the other. 56 00:05:47,540 --> 00:05:55,839 And if we had acknowledged the true king of the covenant to begin with, that is, Jesus Christ, we would not have had this problem to deal with. 57 00:05:56,459 --> 00:06:09,420 This is one reason why the Christian constitutionalist argues for scrapping or at least seriously revamping the present constitution in favor of an explicit Christian constitution. 58 00:06:09,420 --> 00:06:17,500 But then, let us assume for the moment that we were able to wave a magic wand and make this happen, right? 59 00:06:17,779 --> 00:06:24,040 Where Christ the King, in order to form a more perfect union and establish justice, and we go through the preamble, 60 00:06:24,540 --> 00:06:30,420 who eventually says, does ordain and establish this constitution for the United States. 61 00:06:30,639 --> 00:06:35,019 Let's assume for a moment that we could swear our oaths in God's name. 62 00:06:35,019 --> 00:06:46,160 That is, we could say, in the name of God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ, I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, et cetera, et cetera. 63 00:06:46,439 --> 00:06:55,639 And let's assume that we can meaningfully come to a national consensus as to what it means to be a Christian in a Christian constitutional republic. 64 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,259 Well, all of this might be hunky-dory. 65 00:06:59,259 --> 00:07:10,459 We might have everything the way the Christian constitutionalist wants it on paper, but I have to ask, as well as you, if you've thought of this already, so what? 66 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:17,600 So what if it's on paper, but not written in the hearts of the citizens of the United States? 67 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:26,000 Wouldn't we be right back to where we are now in the way the course correction constitutionalist describes things? 68 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:37,660 Only worse, which is worse, to have a corrupt apostate people far from their God, though the contract they have with him, that is, the Constitution, is not technically in his name? 69 00:07:38,060 --> 00:07:50,139 Or is it worse to have a corrupt apostate people far from their God, which God has named explicitly in the contract, that is, our Constitution, right there in black and white for all to see? 70 00:07:50,139 --> 00:07:54,740 Oh, dear listener, obviously, the latter is far worse. 71 00:07:55,480 --> 00:08:05,699 God would have even more reason to judge us than he does now if we had an explicitly Christian Constitution for sinning so egregiously against his name. 72 00:08:06,199 --> 00:08:15,740 What is therefore utterly necessary, and this is important for today, what is utterly necessary for a Christian constitutional republic to work? 73 00:08:15,740 --> 00:08:22,000 If it's going to work, if it's going to work, we have to have the hearts of all the people to be converted and revived. 74 00:08:22,379 --> 00:08:27,019 We must have the hearts of all the people to be converted and revived. 75 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:38,360 And this must be a miraculous wholesale conversion of the population of the United States for a Christian constitutional republic to work at all. 76 00:08:38,740 --> 00:08:43,580 And this, we frankly admit, oh, yes, it won't happen without this. 77 00:08:43,580 --> 00:08:49,799 This is the sine qua non, that is, that without which the thing will not work. 78 00:08:50,539 --> 00:08:59,639 And make no mistake, it is God alone who sovereignly gives such conversion, such revival and reformation. 79 00:09:00,220 --> 00:09:07,419 As Psalm 85 puts it, restore us again, oh, God of our salvation, and put away your indignation towards us. 80 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:09,960 Will you be angry with us forever? 81 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:13,360 Will you prolong your anger to all generations? 82 00:09:14,159 --> 00:09:18,779 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? 83 00:09:19,179 --> 00:09:23,200 Show us your steadfast love, oh, Lord, and grant us your salvation. 84 00:09:23,799 --> 00:09:30,019 Yes, salvation is God's to give, not ours to obtain solely by ourselves. 85 00:09:30,820 --> 00:09:32,019 This was all true. 86 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:40,019 Revival and salvation given by God was true for Israel as God's people, and it's true for us, too, the church as God's people. 87 00:09:40,019 --> 00:09:58,019 A Christian constitutional republic cannot come to fruition without a constitution that establishes a true republic, but also that that Christian constitutional republic is composed of true converted Christians who make it work. 88 00:09:58,019 --> 00:10:02,100 We must all ask of him, who is a penitent king. 89 00:10:02,100 --> 00:10:09,620 David asked, he asked as well, create in me a clean heart, oh, God, and renew a right spirit within me. 90 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:13,600 David knew that it was God alone who could create in him a clean heart. 91 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:18,279 David knew that it was God alone who could renew a right spirit within him. 92 00:10:18,279 --> 00:10:20,799 We must have the same thing happen to us. 93 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:27,399 There's nothing more urgent than the conversion and reformation of the American people. 94 00:10:28,460 --> 00:10:30,500 America, do you not know? 95 00:10:31,139 --> 00:10:33,179 America, can you not see? 96 00:10:33,759 --> 00:10:35,899 Know what God hates in a people. 97 00:10:35,899 --> 00:10:46,519 Oh, he says in Proverbs chapter 6, there are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him, haughty eyes, that is pride. 98 00:10:46,759 --> 00:10:47,919 Americans are proud today. 99 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:51,879 A lying tongue we see in Washington, D.C., nothing but lies. 100 00:10:51,879 --> 00:10:54,200 And hands that shed innocent blood. 101 00:10:54,659 --> 00:10:56,440 Oh, abortion reigns in America. 102 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,220 A heart that devises wicked plans. 103 00:10:59,340 --> 00:11:00,200 We've seen plots. 104 00:11:00,940 --> 00:11:02,059 Haven't we not? 105 00:11:02,399 --> 00:11:04,100 We've seen conspiracies. 106 00:11:04,299 --> 00:11:05,440 You conspiracy theorist. 107 00:11:05,899 --> 00:11:09,440 And then God also hates feet that make haste to run to evil. 108 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:14,620 A false witness who breathes out lies and one who sows discord among brothers, unquote. 109 00:11:14,620 --> 00:11:25,559 Oh, until America awakens and comes to a realistic understanding of her spiritual state, America will never right the ship of state. 110 00:11:25,759 --> 00:11:29,399 America will never be a Christian constitutional republic. 111 00:11:29,860 --> 00:11:35,759 America will continue to flounder and drown and sink in the waters of our own sin. 112 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,200 Oh, dear listener, we see it not. 113 00:11:39,519 --> 00:11:40,419 Do we not? 114 00:11:41,220 --> 00:11:42,500 Yet we see this not. 115 00:11:42,620 --> 00:11:43,399 We hear it not. 116 00:11:43,500 --> 00:11:49,200 And we continue to prance and preen ourselves in our sin like the king in his new clothes. 117 00:11:50,039 --> 00:11:52,700 The apostle John puts it this way in Revelation. 118 00:11:52,700 --> 00:11:54,960 He says, for you say, I am rich. 119 00:11:55,039 --> 00:11:56,740 I have prospered and I need nothing. 120 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:03,519 Not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 121 00:12:03,879 --> 00:12:06,419 America, behold, the king has no clothes. 122 00:12:06,500 --> 00:12:07,419 The church has no clothes. 123 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:09,419 The people in America have no clothes. 124 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:10,940 We think we're rich. 125 00:12:10,940 --> 00:12:13,639 We've prospered that we need nothing. 126 00:12:13,639 --> 00:12:16,340 Although this pandemic has humbled us to some extent. 127 00:12:16,500 --> 00:12:21,240 And we do not yet realize that we're wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 128 00:12:21,980 --> 00:12:28,019 It's time for Americans to look at themselves the way God looks at them and do something about it. 129 00:12:28,879 --> 00:12:36,700 Repent and reform America before we indeed can ever establish a Christian constitutional republic. 130 00:12:36,700 --> 00:12:38,600 Well, what does that look like? 131 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:39,220 Two things. 132 00:12:39,759 --> 00:12:42,379 Let me describe for you what this looks like. 133 00:12:42,659 --> 00:12:49,120 Number one, repentance means there is a sight, sorrow, and sea change over our sin. 134 00:12:49,940 --> 00:12:57,179 Repentance at its core means that there is a sight, sorrow, and sea change over our sin. 135 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:05,399 The hardest thing for an addict to do as you minister to them is to admit his addiction. 136 00:13:05,399 --> 00:13:15,179 Listen, his entire ego is vested in lying to himself that he's okay, that he has it under control, that his abuse is not his master. 137 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:22,360 But once that addict admits that he is powerless over his drug of choice, he's on the road to recovery. 138 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:24,419 He has a sight of his sin. 139 00:13:25,100 --> 00:13:28,580 We're looking at a sight, sorrow, and sea change over our sin. 140 00:13:28,580 --> 00:13:37,419 Once the addict has a sight of his sin, that's his first step, and that's also the first step in any nation's road to repentance. 141 00:13:37,419 --> 00:13:47,759 Oh, as Solomon prayed to God Almighty, he said, if they, that is Israel, and that means all the people of God always and throughout time, 142 00:13:47,940 --> 00:13:56,259 if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, 143 00:13:56,340 --> 00:14:00,500 saying, we have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly. 144 00:14:00,500 --> 00:14:02,580 Oh, that's the first step. 145 00:14:03,159 --> 00:14:07,980 America must first acknowledge that she has sinned and acted perversely and wickedly. 146 00:14:08,259 --> 00:14:14,580 And right now, America struts around the world stage as if she is God's gift to glory and glamour, 147 00:14:14,799 --> 00:14:18,899 not realizing that she is wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 148 00:14:19,779 --> 00:14:25,279 Right now, there is no repentance until there is recall of transgression, 149 00:14:25,799 --> 00:14:29,000 the full realization that one has offended the Almighty. 150 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:34,299 When that happens, well, then another thing begins to happen. 151 00:14:34,899 --> 00:14:39,139 That is, the heart of a nation truly grieves over its offense to God. 152 00:14:39,539 --> 00:14:41,659 There is godly sorrow over sin. 153 00:14:41,919 --> 00:14:42,840 Paul puts it this way. 154 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:48,059 Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, 155 00:14:48,740 --> 00:14:51,500 whereas worldly grief produces death. 156 00:14:52,299 --> 00:14:54,399 Oh, the Apostle Paul had it down, didn't he? 157 00:14:54,399 --> 00:14:58,259 And when we see America's heart torn in sorrow, 158 00:14:58,679 --> 00:15:02,740 then we will know that we are moving towards true repentance. 159 00:15:03,399 --> 00:15:04,700 It's happened in the past. 160 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:09,259 It happened during the Great Awakening before the Revolution in 1776, 161 00:15:09,539 --> 00:15:13,940 and then again during the Second Great Awakening in the early 19th century. 162 00:15:14,899 --> 00:15:17,580 Jonathan Edwards, out of Northfield, Connecticut, 163 00:15:17,580 --> 00:15:21,080 he recounts that his congregation was, as he puts it, 164 00:15:21,159 --> 00:15:26,500 extraordinarily melted by every sermon preached by the evangelist George Whitefield. 165 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:31,799 He said almost the whole congregation being in tears most of the time. 166 00:15:31,940 --> 00:15:36,879 Oh, at that time, the Lord was moving by his spirit among the people of America, 167 00:15:36,879 --> 00:15:40,440 and he moved many to repentance during that time. 168 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:41,700 He needs to do that now. 169 00:15:41,700 --> 00:15:44,419 And the effect was quite remarkable. 170 00:15:45,620 --> 00:15:49,299 Repentance, Jonathan Edwards says during that time, 171 00:15:49,659 --> 00:15:54,879 excited humility, self-condemnation, self-abhorrence, love, and joy. 172 00:15:55,220 --> 00:15:57,419 Many fainted under these affections. 173 00:15:58,539 --> 00:16:03,080 Oh, our Westminster Standards puts repentance this way. 174 00:16:03,580 --> 00:16:07,240 Repentance is, according to our Westminster Shorter Catechism, 175 00:16:07,759 --> 00:16:10,279 repentance unto life is a saving grace, 176 00:16:10,279 --> 00:16:14,059 whereby a sinner out of a true sense of his sin 177 00:16:14,059 --> 00:16:16,980 and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ 178 00:16:16,980 --> 00:16:19,759 does with grief and hatred of his sin 179 00:16:19,759 --> 00:16:21,899 turn from it unto God 180 00:16:21,899 --> 00:16:26,840 with full purpose of and endeavor after new obedience. 181 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:27,440 Unquote. 182 00:16:27,519 --> 00:16:30,720 Just a beautiful, succinct definition of true repentance. 183 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:32,799 But it doesn't stop there. 184 00:16:33,259 --> 00:16:35,840 Not only is there a sight and sorrow over sin, 185 00:16:35,899 --> 00:16:37,899 but there's also a sea change over sin. 186 00:16:37,899 --> 00:16:42,200 That is, one begins to change his behavior to stop sinning. 187 00:16:42,740 --> 00:16:45,480 And we will know when America has truly repented 188 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:48,500 when the abortion clinics are shutting down 189 00:16:48,500 --> 00:16:52,399 and children are placed in families with men and fathers 190 00:16:52,399 --> 00:16:56,379 instead of being trafficked for sex to men and fathers. 191 00:16:56,679 --> 00:16:59,120 And we will know America has truly repented 192 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,779 when the evil traitors of the deep state are unmasked 193 00:17:02,779 --> 00:17:06,559 and justice marches them down to Guantanamo Bay 194 00:17:06,559 --> 00:17:08,579 instead of closing Guantanamo Bay. 195 00:17:09,279 --> 00:17:11,859 And we will know that America has truly repented 196 00:17:11,859 --> 00:17:14,660 when the hypodermic needle of addictions 197 00:17:14,660 --> 00:17:18,099 fall away from the arm of Uncle Sam 198 00:17:18,099 --> 00:17:21,500 and become strong again to defend the nation. 199 00:17:21,500 --> 00:17:23,940 But once again, it doesn't stop there. 200 00:17:24,599 --> 00:17:27,400 Number two, the United States of America 201 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:29,799 must also bring about not only revival, 202 00:17:30,299 --> 00:17:34,839 but a reformation of her morals and religious character. 203 00:17:36,079 --> 00:17:37,519 Secondly, oh, dear listener, 204 00:17:37,700 --> 00:17:40,579 the United States must bring about a reformation 205 00:17:40,579 --> 00:17:42,900 of her morals and religious character. 206 00:17:43,579 --> 00:17:46,220 There must be repentance and reformation 207 00:17:46,220 --> 00:17:47,759 before there is restoration, 208 00:17:47,759 --> 00:17:52,460 before we do indeed establish a Christian constitutional republic. 209 00:17:53,079 --> 00:17:54,380 It's not enough to repent, 210 00:17:54,700 --> 00:17:57,779 that is, have a sight, sorrow, and sea change regarding sin, 211 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,640 but we must also move on from there 212 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:06,420 and reform what has become so terribly blighted and decayed. 213 00:18:07,279 --> 00:18:09,000 John tells the church in Ephesus, 214 00:18:09,559 --> 00:18:11,900 remember therefore from where you have fallen, 215 00:18:12,319 --> 00:18:15,220 repent and do the works you did at first. 216 00:18:15,220 --> 00:18:18,160 Ha ha, this is the essence of reformation. 217 00:18:18,319 --> 00:18:19,799 Do the works you did at first. 218 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:23,279 America used to be a nation of goodness and righteousness. 219 00:18:24,299 --> 00:18:28,079 Oh, indeed, as de Tocqueville said about America, 220 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:31,279 he said, not until I went into the churches of America 221 00:18:31,279 --> 00:18:34,319 and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness 222 00:18:34,319 --> 00:18:38,079 did I understand the secret of her genius and power. 223 00:18:38,759 --> 00:18:41,740 America is great because America is good. 224 00:18:41,740 --> 00:18:44,539 And if America ever ceases to be good, 225 00:18:44,839 --> 00:18:47,019 America will cease to be great. 226 00:18:47,519 --> 00:18:49,339 Quote and unquote. 227 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:52,099 That's Alexis de Tocqueville. 228 00:18:52,619 --> 00:18:55,799 Make America good again, not great again, 229 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:57,859 make her first good again. 230 00:18:58,559 --> 00:19:00,980 Our genius and power, as de Tocqueville puts it, 231 00:19:01,259 --> 00:19:03,440 is directly proportional to our goodness 232 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:06,980 that is bound to how righteous we are as a nation, 233 00:19:07,619 --> 00:19:10,039 the degree to which we practice godly, 234 00:19:10,039 --> 00:19:11,339 biblical righteousness. 235 00:19:12,519 --> 00:19:14,180 Oh, as Micah said to Israel, 236 00:19:14,380 --> 00:19:15,720 it's so true for us too. 237 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,380 He has told you, oh man, what is good. 238 00:19:18,799 --> 00:19:20,940 And what does the Lord require of you 239 00:19:20,940 --> 00:19:24,420 but to do justice and to love kindness 240 00:19:24,420 --> 00:19:28,079 and to walk humbly with your God, unquote. 241 00:19:28,259 --> 00:19:29,140 Oh, that's beautiful. 242 00:19:29,700 --> 00:19:32,039 How the United States stands in need of reform 243 00:19:32,039 --> 00:19:34,380 along the lines of Micah. 244 00:19:35,220 --> 00:19:38,039 When the United States is serious about biblical reform, 245 00:19:38,380 --> 00:19:40,119 she will practice justice again. 246 00:19:40,940 --> 00:19:42,640 Presently, there's a two-tiered system 247 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:43,740 of justice in America, 248 00:19:43,940 --> 00:19:46,359 one for the Democrat and Republican elite 249 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:48,440 and one for the rest of us. 250 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:52,180 Oh, remember when Dinesh D'Souza went to prison 251 00:19:52,180 --> 00:19:56,160 for mistakenly handling $10,000 in campaign donations? 252 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,559 He's an obvious political prisoner. 253 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:01,440 While Hillary Clinton goes scot-free, 254 00:20:01,660 --> 00:20:04,920 betraying the United States as Secretary of State, 255 00:20:05,299 --> 00:20:07,900 grafting millions of dollars in the Clinton Foundation, 256 00:20:08,500 --> 00:20:11,359 fat cats like Hillary Clinton are too fat to fail, 257 00:20:11,599 --> 00:20:15,420 while the rest of us are too small to warrant being free. 258 00:20:16,180 --> 00:20:18,500 And secondly, when the United States is serious 259 00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:19,819 about biblical reform, 260 00:20:20,180 --> 00:20:22,019 she will love mercy again. 261 00:20:22,019 --> 00:20:25,519 Ah, mercy in the Bible is that attribute of God 262 00:20:25,519 --> 00:20:27,700 which shows compassion towards the helpless 263 00:20:27,700 --> 00:20:28,940 and the forsaken, 264 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:31,299 those who perhaps cannot help themselves 265 00:20:31,299 --> 00:20:33,460 and who may not otherwise even deserve 266 00:20:33,460 --> 00:20:34,599 our help and compassion. 267 00:20:34,799 --> 00:20:38,660 While God has mercy on the sinner who cannot save himself, 268 00:20:39,539 --> 00:20:41,920 we in turn show mercy to one another 269 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:45,440 and to others who otherwise may not be able to help us. 270 00:20:45,700 --> 00:20:48,339 And we will show compassion towards the unborn, 271 00:20:48,740 --> 00:20:51,279 the sojourner, the orphan, the sick, the hungry, 272 00:20:51,279 --> 00:20:52,500 the poor among us. 273 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:55,220 Ah, but this will be done by the church 274 00:20:55,220 --> 00:20:56,200 and not the government. 275 00:20:56,539 --> 00:20:57,779 Yes, biblical reform. 276 00:20:58,079 --> 00:20:59,900 We will love mercy again. 277 00:21:00,059 --> 00:21:01,960 And then finally, when the United States 278 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:03,720 is serious about biblical reform, 279 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,059 she will walk humbly with her God. 280 00:21:06,819 --> 00:21:08,839 In the past, America has owned 281 00:21:08,839 --> 00:21:10,880 the God of the Bible as her own. 282 00:21:11,539 --> 00:21:14,819 The Supreme Court back in 1892 said flatly, 283 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:17,119 our civilization and institutions 284 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:19,180 are emphatically Christian, unquote. 285 00:21:19,180 --> 00:21:22,180 George Washington was insistent 286 00:21:22,180 --> 00:21:24,400 that the divine hand of providence 287 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:26,759 was upon him in the entire course 288 00:21:26,759 --> 00:21:28,619 of the American Revolution, for example. 289 00:21:29,559 --> 00:21:31,619 The task of reforming America 290 00:21:31,619 --> 00:21:34,259 along the lines of justice, mercy, 291 00:21:34,660 --> 00:21:36,559 and a humble walking with our God, 292 00:21:36,660 --> 00:21:37,500 as Micah puts it, 293 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:38,859 these are immense. 294 00:21:39,039 --> 00:21:40,359 That task is immense. 295 00:21:41,039 --> 00:21:43,240 But it must not be ignored, listener. 296 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:45,119 It must not be shirked. 297 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:48,420 The longer we delay repentance and reform, 298 00:21:48,599 --> 00:21:51,380 the deeper we will sink into the morass 299 00:21:51,380 --> 00:21:53,160 and decay of our sin. 300 00:21:53,940 --> 00:21:56,420 And the more difficult it will be 301 00:21:56,420 --> 00:22:00,039 to bring reform and to indeed bring the onset 302 00:22:00,039 --> 00:22:02,859 of a Christian constitutional republic. 303 00:22:03,259 --> 00:22:05,519 There is this urgency to it. 304 00:22:05,839 --> 00:22:07,859 Not only does the task of reform 305 00:22:07,859 --> 00:22:11,140 become more difficult with every moment we neglect it, 306 00:22:11,140 --> 00:22:15,240 but we also tempt the patience of God in judgment 307 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,720 the longer we postpone repentance and reform. 308 00:22:19,220 --> 00:22:22,339 Because we have seen in the history of Israel, 309 00:22:22,599 --> 00:22:24,980 we've seen in the history of the world 310 00:22:24,980 --> 00:22:26,079 in redemptive history, 311 00:22:26,500 --> 00:22:29,460 in the secret of God's own will 312 00:22:29,460 --> 00:22:32,720 and his own sovereign timing, 313 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:35,200 God reaches a point 314 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:37,319 when repentance and reform 315 00:22:37,319 --> 00:22:39,259 are no longer an option, 316 00:22:39,259 --> 00:22:40,960 but only judgment. 317 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:43,579 This is clear throughout the Old Testament. 318 00:22:43,779 --> 00:22:45,359 For example, in Jeremiah 14, 319 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:47,240 God tells Jeremiah, 320 00:22:48,039 --> 00:22:49,400 then said the Lord unto me, 321 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:52,779 pray not for this people for their good. 322 00:22:53,339 --> 00:22:54,319 When they fast, 323 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:56,039 I will not hear their cry. 324 00:22:56,420 --> 00:22:58,240 And when they offer burnt offering 325 00:22:58,240 --> 00:22:59,500 and an amblation, 326 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:01,859 I will not accept them. 327 00:23:02,140 --> 00:23:04,819 But I will consume them 328 00:23:04,819 --> 00:23:06,039 by the sword 329 00:23:06,039 --> 00:23:07,319 and by the famine 330 00:23:07,319 --> 00:23:08,960 and by the pestilence, 331 00:23:09,180 --> 00:23:09,539 unquote. 332 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:10,900 There is a point 333 00:23:10,900 --> 00:23:12,980 God reaches with a people 334 00:23:12,980 --> 00:23:15,640 when he has only judgment for them. 335 00:23:15,779 --> 00:23:17,920 That may well be where we are. 336 00:23:18,279 --> 00:23:20,000 He's already said a pestilence. 337 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,059 Looks like famine's on the horizon 338 00:23:22,059 --> 00:23:24,039 and maybe war as well. 339 00:23:24,900 --> 00:23:26,400 Behold what must happen 340 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:28,700 before the United States of America 341 00:23:28,700 --> 00:23:30,759 can ever hope to be transformed 342 00:23:30,759 --> 00:23:33,259 into a Christian constitutional republic. 343 00:23:33,259 --> 00:23:35,539 She must repent of her sin 344 00:23:35,539 --> 00:23:37,279 and reform her way of life 345 00:23:37,279 --> 00:23:39,200 according to biblical principles. 346 00:23:39,559 --> 00:23:42,059 Without this fundamental transformation, 347 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:45,420 any talk of a Christian constitutional republic 348 00:23:45,420 --> 00:23:48,059 or even a restored historic 349 00:23:48,059 --> 00:23:49,640 constitutional republic, 350 00:23:49,859 --> 00:23:51,380 all of this is academic 351 00:23:51,380 --> 00:23:54,299 and doomed to certain failure. 352 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:56,759 Ezekiel puts it succinctly. 353 00:23:56,839 --> 00:23:57,160 He says, 354 00:23:57,420 --> 00:24:00,220 repent and turn from all your transgressions, 355 00:24:00,220 --> 00:24:02,940 lest iniquity be your ruin. 356 00:24:03,339 --> 00:24:04,339 Are you listening, America? 357 00:24:04,660 --> 00:24:06,920 And lest we not apply this personally, 358 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:10,160 do not do what I tend to do 359 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:12,180 when I hear something that I agree with. 360 00:24:12,220 --> 00:24:12,819 I tend to say, 361 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:13,220 amen, 362 00:24:13,519 --> 00:24:14,140 go get them. 363 00:24:14,279 --> 00:24:15,220 You tell them, preacher. 364 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:17,480 When it is precisely 365 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,359 the very thing I need to hear personally. 366 00:24:20,980 --> 00:24:22,779 And that is what it is for me. 367 00:24:23,500 --> 00:24:23,960 Repentance, 368 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:24,559 like judgment, 369 00:24:24,799 --> 00:24:26,460 begins with me 370 00:24:26,460 --> 00:24:28,859 and it begins with the house of God. 371 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:29,960 Peter says, 372 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:32,019 it is time for judgment to begin 373 00:24:32,019 --> 00:24:34,000 at the household of God. 374 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:35,759 And if it begins with us, 375 00:24:35,980 --> 00:24:37,319 what will be the outcome 376 00:24:37,319 --> 00:24:40,420 for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 377 00:24:40,859 --> 00:24:42,039 Oh, dear listener. 378 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:43,720 Yes. 379 00:24:44,599 --> 00:24:47,160 Do not neglect your own repentance, 380 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:47,839 dear listener. 381 00:24:48,380 --> 00:24:50,799 I've begun to change the way that I live. 382 00:24:51,279 --> 00:24:53,460 There are areas of my life 383 00:24:53,460 --> 00:24:55,759 in which I got lazy about 384 00:24:55,759 --> 00:24:57,720 and I needed to repent of them. 385 00:24:58,160 --> 00:24:59,420 I need to do this. 386 00:24:59,460 --> 00:25:00,339 And I have people 387 00:25:00,339 --> 00:25:01,539 who hold me accountable 388 00:25:01,539 --> 00:25:03,500 for my own personal repentance. 389 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:05,259 Dear listener, 390 00:25:05,460 --> 00:25:07,259 you need to repent as well. 391 00:25:07,420 --> 00:25:08,660 God always begins 392 00:25:08,660 --> 00:25:09,759 holding those 393 00:25:09,759 --> 00:25:10,980 with whom he's in covenant. 394 00:25:11,279 --> 00:25:13,079 He holds them accountable first. 395 00:25:13,779 --> 00:25:14,839 It's time for judgment 396 00:25:14,839 --> 00:25:16,680 to begin at the household of God, 397 00:25:16,859 --> 00:25:17,359 Peter says. 398 00:25:17,779 --> 00:25:18,240 And indeed, 399 00:25:18,319 --> 00:25:19,319 that's where it begins. 400 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:20,640 And that's where you need to begin 401 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:21,779 with your own repentance 402 00:25:21,779 --> 00:25:23,180 before you even think 403 00:25:23,180 --> 00:25:24,880 about national repentance, 404 00:25:25,039 --> 00:25:25,480 dear listener. 405 00:25:25,759 --> 00:25:27,400 If you know that's coming, 406 00:25:27,500 --> 00:25:28,960 if you know judgment is coming, 407 00:25:29,099 --> 00:25:29,279 well, 408 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:31,119 get your household in order, 409 00:25:31,299 --> 00:25:31,619 believer. 410 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:32,900 Repent. 411 00:25:33,279 --> 00:25:34,619 Reform your own lives. 412 00:25:35,099 --> 00:25:35,480 Repent. 413 00:25:35,819 --> 00:25:36,720 Reform the lives 414 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:37,839 of your family members 415 00:25:37,839 --> 00:25:38,859 and those around you, 416 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:40,579 those in the life of your church, 417 00:25:40,599 --> 00:25:42,099 because that is indeed 418 00:25:42,099 --> 00:25:43,079 where we need to begin. 419 00:25:43,079 --> 00:25:45,039 And then and only then 420 00:25:45,039 --> 00:25:47,339 will we begin to see 421 00:25:47,339 --> 00:25:50,759 a Christian constitutional republic form 422 00:25:50,759 --> 00:25:52,140 and then worldwide 423 00:25:52,140 --> 00:25:53,660 when there is worldwide 424 00:25:53,660 --> 00:25:55,180 reformation and repentance, 425 00:25:55,460 --> 00:25:55,920 dear listener. 426 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,700 This is Pastor David Bass 427 00:25:58,700 --> 00:26:01,940 at New Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church. 428 00:26:02,599 --> 00:26:04,119 We meet for holy worship 429 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:05,579 at 10 a.m. 430 00:26:05,779 --> 00:26:07,339 at 101 4th Street 431 00:26:07,339 --> 00:26:09,059 on the corner of 4th and Boulevard. 432 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:11,119 I encourage you to join us for worship 433 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:12,539 and see who we are, 434 00:26:12,660 --> 00:26:14,019 see what we preach 435 00:26:14,019 --> 00:26:14,940 and believe we're preaching 436 00:26:14,940 --> 00:26:16,220 through Revelation right now. 437 00:26:16,460 --> 00:26:17,579 And you can call us 438 00:26:17,579 --> 00:26:18,500 for more information 439 00:26:18,500 --> 00:26:21,920 at area code 208-523-0196. 440 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,819 Maybe give me some feedback. 441 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:28,779 208-523-0196. 442 00:26:28,839 --> 00:26:30,380 Or check out the website 443 00:26:30,380 --> 00:26:34,140 that chronicles these radio messages. 444 00:26:34,500 --> 00:26:36,619 That's omnisprotestas.org. 445 00:26:36,900 --> 00:26:42,980 O-M-N-I-S-P-O-T-E-S-T-A-S.org. 446 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:49,039 Or call us at area code 208-523-0196.