Truthfrees said in post #135:
actually Jesus' last words on this subject are Luke 22:36 which is different than what you have posted
Note that Jesus' last words on the subject do not contradict His previous words.
For Luke 22:36b means that every Christian should obtain the sword of God's Holy Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12). The "two swords" which are enough for all Christians (Luke 22:38) represent the two main parts of God's Word: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Luke 22:36b cannot mean that every Christian should obtain a physical weapon, for otherwise two physical weapons would not have been enough for all of the apostles (Luke 22:38). And Luke 22:36b cannot mean that any Christian should obtain a physical weapon to attack other people with, even in self-defense. For Christians are elsewhere commanded not to defend themselves when they are attacked, but to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39). For those who take up a physical weapon to attack other people, even in self-defense, will perish by a weapon (Matthew 26:52).
Also, the apostle Paul, who taught
after Jesus Christ, showed in the Bible that Christians do not employ physical weapons or any other violence against people (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Ephesians 6:12-18). Instead, Jesus Christ at His first coming set the example for what Christians are to do when they are physically attacked by people (1 Peter 2:19-23). They are to go meekly like sheep to the slaughter (Romans 8:36, Psalms 44:6,22), just like Jesus did (Isaiah 53:7). Obedient Christians do not fear death (Hebrews 2:15), and do not love their lives unto death (Revelation 12:11b), but hate their lives in this world, so that they might retain eternal life (John 12:25, Mark 8:34-38). For obedient Christians know that being killed is no loss for them, but gain (Philippians 1:21), as it will bring their still-conscious souls into heaven to be with Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:8), which is far better than remaining in this fallen world (Philippians 1:23).
During the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, Christians (not in hiding) will have to face martyrdom with patience and faith to the end (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4, Matthew 24:9-13), just as Christians have always had to spiritually overcome in the face of martyrdom (e.g. Revelation 2:10-11).
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Truthfrees said in post #137:
even if you are opposed to the 2nd amendment would you want the police and army to be unarmed?
The Second Amendment is fine, for non-Christians, and for Christian hunters and target shooters.
But it is against God's Word for Christians to ever use physical weapons against
people. For Christians are not to employ physical weapons or any other violence against people (Matthew 5:39, Matthew 26:52; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Ephesians 6:12-18).
But God does allow civil authorities to employ weapons and violence against criminals (Romans 13:3-4). And Christians are to obey, and pay their taxes to support, civil authorities (Romans 13:1-6).
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Truthfrees said in post #143:
Jesus was meant to die for our sins - He didn't need rescuing . . .
And neither do we, by violent self-defense.
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It is sometimes asked: "Does the Lord call us to just sit back and allow ourselves to be killed, when it is not the Lord's time to call us home?"
The answer is: If it is not the Lord's time to call us home, then He will not allow murderers to come and kill us, or allow any other form of death to come to us (Psalms 91). But if it is our time, then He could allow us to be murdered, and we should face that without any fear (Revelation 2:10) or complaint, but even with thankfulness (1 Thessalonians 5:18), that we can then enter heaven, which is far better than remaining in this fallen world (2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:21,23).
Also, what gives us the right to kill someone who is attacking us, if it is not the Lord's time for that person to die? God might still want to save that person's soul and help him to change and be a nice person. And how can God do that if we kill that person while he is still an unrepentant non-Christian, so that when he dies his soul goes to hell? If Stephen the martyr in the book of Acts could ask God to forgive those who were stoning him to death (Acts 7:59-60), so that even they might be saved from hell, then we should also show mercy to everyone (Matthew 5:7, Matthew 6:15), even if they are about to kill us.