🌱Seed 😁Strongly-Agree 🟢Conviction 🏖️Universe-Humans
The Big Idea
Also know as the “Two Kingdoms” but distinct from the Idea of God’s vs Satan’s Kingdoms.
Instead focused on: How does God work in the world?
Basic Answer: He works through two different realms within the world.
Apology of the Augsburg Confession Articles XV para 43.
“In our churches all the sermons deal with topics like these: repentance, fear of God, faith in Christ, the righteousness of faith, consolation of consciences through faith, the exercise of faith, prayer (what it should be like and that everyone may be completely certain that it is efficacious and is heard), the cross, respect for the magistrates and all civil orders, the distinction between the kingdom of Christ (the spiritual kingdom) and political affairs, marriage, the education and instruction of children, chastity, and all the works of love.”
Temporal (Left Hand).
The goal of this realm is to uphold God’s justice for the oppressed and make the world livable for humans. The use of the law that is employed is as a Curb to keep evil at bay enough for life to function. The Law is primary in this realm understood as God’s eternal will for creation. Ethics and the way people live is what we are interested in when talking about the temporal realm. It is all about trying to hold the world together and keep sin in check. No government can save or create a perfect utopia! It is only about keeping a lid on it. Therefore, mostly interested in Coram Mundo (before men) stuff.
Romans 13:1-3a
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.”
Formula of Concord Section VI para 5-7.
- Concerning the difference between the works of the law and the fruits of the Spirit, we believe, teach, and confess that the works performed according to the law remain works of the law and should be so called, as long as they are coerced out of people only through the pressure of punishment and the threat of God’s wrath.
- The fruits of the Spirit, however, are the works that the Spirit of God, who dwells in believers, effects through the reborn; they are done by believers (insofar as they are reborn) as if they knew of no command, threat, or reward. In this manner the children of God live in the law and walk according to the law of God—what St. Paul in his epistles calls the law of Christ and the law of the mind. And yet they are “not under the law but under grace” (Rom. 7:23 and 8:1, 14).
- Therefore, for both the repentant and unrepentant, for the reborn and those not reborn, the law is and remains one single law, the unchangeable will of God. In terms of obedience to it there is a difference only in that those people who are not yet reborn do what the law demands unwillingly, because they are coerced (as is also the case with the reborn with respect to the flesh). Believers, however, do without coercion, with a willing spirit, insofar as they are born anew, what no threat of the law could ever force from them.”
Spiritual Realm (Right Hand).
The goal of this realm is to point everyone toward Jesus and His final rule and reign which will arrive in its fullness at His second coming. The Gospel is primary in this realm understood as the proclamation of God’s word faithfully and true. The Means of Grace are also central over here. Everything is aimed at the true salvation of the humanity and creation that can only be achieved by the work of Jesus on the Cross. This is the full restoration of Creation through Christ and Christ alone. Therefore, mostly interested in Coram Deo (before God) stuff.
Philippians 3:17-21
“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Important Notes
- The two realms are not at odds with each other. They have specific God given functions.
- However, they also should not run together and become one big mess.
- We live in both realms at once and inform our life in the world by our identity in Christ.
- Both realms will be merged and put fully under Jesus when He returns.
- Both the Spiritual and the Temporal realms are tangible reality. They are not a kind of platonic or gnostic distinction making matter or spiritual planes distinct.
Axioms at work in this framework:
- Both are carefully distinct without divorcing them from one another.
- There should be cooperation between the two realms without them being confused with each other.
Further Resources and Reading
Biermann Systems Lecture: Systematics IV Class 15
Break down of how the Two Kingdoms shows up in Luther’s writing