The Doctrine of the Royal Family Honor Code and how it relates
to putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness for the Christian soldier.
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Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!
Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).
1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]; we call this REBOUND, read the full doctrine as to “why” we need to use 1 John 1:9 to grow spiritually. REBOUND
If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to simply exercise faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life; when you do, you will instantly receive Eternal Life: John 3:16, 5:24, 6:47, 20:30, 31.
John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me [Jesus Christ] has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]
Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.
John 3:14-15, 16, 17, 18, says: "14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV
Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:
Study to show yourself approved to God!
Grace Bible Church
Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
STUDY TITLE:
The Doctrine of the Royal Family Honor Code and how it relates to putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness for the Christian soldier.
Point 1 was our Definition and Description.
We begin with the fact that the apostle Paul says in 2Co 3:1, Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, which means their life had been changed by the doctrine the apostle Paul, and men like Timothy, Titus, and Apollos had taught them, then Paul goes on to say that they were known and read by all men;
This refers to the fact that the recipients of the teaching of the Word of God must not only apply this truth, but communicate it in terms of their lives and their relationship to others.
2Co 3:3, Being manifested [or it’s being revealed] that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink,[you’re not a letter or book which we wrote with ink] but [you have been written] with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone [a reference to the Mosaic Law which was written on stone], but you are our letter written on tablets of human hearts or human right lobes.
The phrase cared for is the aor-pass-part of diakoneo which means to be ministered to through doctrine or through the communication of the word of God. It means to be penned, to be written, to be prepared. It does not mean to hold someone’s hand, or to pat them on the head and tell them nice things which are usually not even true. This means to prepare your students for life through the communication of the Word of God or Bible doctrine.
As a part of the Royal Family honor code and putting on the breastplate of righteousness, the recipients of Bible doctrine must not only apply the truth that comes from the word of God being taught, but also communicate it in terms of their lives in relationship to others. Therefore as members of the Royal Family we are to live like Gal 6:1-2 says, Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. [so that we can] Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.
1Jo 2:8-11, On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Then in 1Jo 3:14-18 we read, We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
As a part of the Royal Family honor code and putting on the breastplate of righteousness, the recipients of Bible doctrine must not only apply the truth that comes from the word of God being taught, but also communicate it in terms of their lives in relationship to others. However, make sure you understand, that this does not mean to change your personality to fit and conform yourself to what others desire you to be.
When the apostle Paul said in 2Co 3:3, Being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, he was saying that as a part of the Royal Family honor code and putting on the breastplate of righteousness, the recipients of Bible doctrine must not only apply the truth that comes from the word of God being taught, but also communicate it in terms of their lives in relationship to others. It means that you be who you are because you realize that you are the reflection of the grace of God, and in 1Co 15:10, But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
Therefore, the Royal Family honor code centers around those two words again: Truth and Integrity, with integrity being defined as devotion to spiritual, moral, and ethical principles related to truth and honesty. Hence, the royal family honor code or putting on the breastplate of righteousness relates to both the PPOG as well as every function in relationship to people.
Remember Matt 25:40 where our Lord said, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, {even} the least {of them,} you did it to Me.”
Acts 9:4-5, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who art Thou, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,”
A very simply principle emerges: gossip, maligning, slandering others is a violation of the Royal Family honor code. Not just against the brethren, but against all members of the human race whether believers or unbelievers. This is why Tit 3:2, Speak evil of no man, do not be argumentative, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
As a part of the Royal Family honor code, the believer needs to understand that he is born again into a status quo of aristocracy. This is why the Church-age is the dispensation of the Royal Family of God. Therefore, we must have royal function to go along with the fact that we are Royal aristocracy.
This is why the apostle Peter said in 1Pe 2:5, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:9-10, But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the basis for the fact we have an honor code and He is the prototype of putting on the breastplate of righteousness. Prototype means that the lord Jesus Christ is the original model on which the breastplate was manifested and shown. He left us this honor code and the means of putting on the breastplate of righteousness.
The Lord Jesus Christ has three categories of royalty:
Divine: The Royalty of His deity, by virtue of the fact that He is eternal and infinite God.
Jewish: The Royalty of His humanity, by virtue of the virgin birth, Incarnation and First Advent.
Battlefield: The Royalty of His Hypostatic Union, by virtue of His strategic victory at the Cross.
We also have to understand and appreciate the Royal Families of Jesus Christ.
Divine royalty: This is a reference to God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ always had this family in His divine Royalty and always will.
Jewish royalty: This refers to the dynasty of David. All of His ancestors from David and Bathsheba down to his legal father Joseph and His real mother Mary.
Then we also have His stepbrothers: James, Joseph Jr., Simon, and Judas or Jude. Then there are His stepsisters, at least two, being also royal descendants (Matt 13:55-56).
Matt13:55-56, Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then {did} this man {get} all these things?
His Battlefield royalty: The Royal Family of God = every Church-age believer. After His ascension and session, there was no Royal Family for His third Royalty. The Age of Israel was brought to a screeching halt, and the Church-age was inserted, the dispensation for the calling out of the Royal Family of God. The Church-Age is the mystery age, its doctrines being previously unknown. Technical phrases are used to describe the Royal Family are: The body of Christ, the Church, the Bride of Christ, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Sanctification, and the Beloved Brethren.
Each part of our Lord’s royalty performs a specific function at the Second Advent.
In His Divine Royalty, Jesus Christ controls history. Therefore, Jesus Christ will judge the entire world.
In His Jewish Royalty, Jesus Christ returns as the Son of David, re-gathers Israel, terminates their fifth cycle of discipline, fulfills all the unconditional covenants to Israel, and rules forever over Israel’s born-again believers.
In His Battlefield Royalty, Jesus Christ terminates Satan’s rulership of the world. He incarcerates Satan and his demon army at the end of the Millennium.
Jesus Christ then becomes the ruler of the world as the King of kings and Lord of lords, superseding Satan.
Rev 19:12, And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself.
Rev 19:16, And on His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
This last category of royalty is necessary to provide a Royal Family for the Lord Jesus Christ who is seated at the right hand of God the Father.
Therefore, the Jewish-age was halted, and the Church-age was inserted to call out the Royal Family. Also, the baptism of the Holy Spirit enters us into union with our Lord Jesus Christ making us spiritual aristocracy.
Aristocracy has standards, and these standards are what we call the Royal Family honor code. The honor code or putting on the breastplate of righteousness is the Christian way of life. And it is compatible with two things that happened at salvation.
1) The baptism of the Spirit and current positional truth provide the Church-age believer with a double portion of perfect righteousness and eternal life. The phrase “in Christ” found throughout the New Testament is the basis for the fact that the honor code is superior to any other code, or system, or morality, or spiritual function, in any previous or future dispensation.
2) And then secondly, the imputation of perfect righteousness provides a purpose for the Royal Family. This imputation provides both motivation and momentum.
We have the perfect righteousness of God the Father through imputation, and the perfect righteousness of God the Son through being in union with Him. Therefore, if we have the perfect righteousness of God freely given to us at the moment of salvation, we should learn how to operate in that righteousness which results in personal integrity found in the believer.
Right thinking results in right motivation. Right motivation means right function. This is the force of the Royal Family honor code or putting on the breastplate of righteousness. However, for this right thinking to occur there must be maximum Bible doctrine in the right lobe of the soul. For application of this resident doctrine there must also be the filling of the Holy Spirit.
The honor code or putting on the breastplate of righteousness also includes the advance to maturity. The honor code or putting on the breastplate of righteousness makes it possible for every believer who is positive to doctrine to advance to maturity. There is a great enemy to the honor code or putting on the breastplate of righteousness and that is gossip, maligning, and slandering others. These are the number one sins which destroy the Royal Family honor code and make it impossible to put on the breastplate of righteousness.
Eph 4:25, Therefore, having laid aside the lie, each one of you speak the truth with his fellow-believer, since we are members one of another.
The lie is anything which contradicts the honor code. The lie includes certain areas of carnality, cosmic involvement, and Christian degeneracy. Laying aside the lie is recovery in all of these areas where we have failed. The PPOG is the greatest producer of honor and integrity in all of history. It is an honor and integrity produced by the ministry of God the Holy Spirit. It is an honor and integrity produced by perception, metabolization, and application of Bible doctrine.
Absolute truth will tolerate nothing less than the honor, integrity, and virtue that comes from the filling of the Spirit, the perception and inculcation of doctrine, and the resultant spiritual growth. And absolute truth has prevailed in the past and will prevail in the future. But when people reject absolute truth, there is no understanding of true honor and integrity.
They violate the Royal Family honor code and never put on the breastplate of righteousness.
Prov 6:12-19 teaches two categories of sin which basically violate the Royal Family honor code and prohibit any believer from putting on the breastplate of righteousness. Verses Prov 12-15 address the troublemaker. He is arrogant, jealous, implacable with revenge motivation which and motivated by evil. He is a gossip, and guilty of inordinate ambition and inordinate competition. And the troublemaker is a disaster in the local church and in any organization.
Troublemakers are always uptight. In their own mind, troublemakers are always better than everyone else. Prov 6:12 says, “A worthless person, an evil man is one the who walks with a false mouth.”
This means that trouble-making is often generated through the mouth in gossip, maligning, and judging. A false mouth emphasizes the sins of the tongue.
Prov 6:13, “Who winks with his eye, who signals with his feet, who points with his finger.”
All this is the body language of mockery, ridicule, and derision. A troublemaker gets his kicks by putting other people down. And he himself is a slob, but he can put down other people.
Prov 6:14, “Who with perversity in his right lobe devises evil continually [or a better translation,”
Perversity and malice is any deviation from doctrine. The troublemaker does not go by what the Bible says is right and wrong.
You see some believers live by the royal family honor code and some believers spread strife.
Prov 6:15, “Therefore, his destruction will come suddenly [divine discipline]; instantly he will be broken, and there will be no healing.”
First, the troublemaker suffers from self-induced misery under the law of volitional responsibility. Then eventually he gets clobbered with divine discipline in three stages: Warning discipline, intensive discipline, and eventually dying discipline. So either remain a troublemaker and be broken, or depart from it through rebound and recovery and a crash diet of Bible doctrine.
Prov 6:16-17, “There are six things which the Lord hates; in fact, seven are an abomination to Him. A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,”
Haughty eyes or a proud look is arrogance, which includes everything, e.g., bitterness, jealousy, vindictiveness, implacability, hatred, self-pity, etc. A lying tongue refers to malicious gossip and slander. Hands that shed innocent blood refers to murder.
Note the pattern in verse 17, for it lists the three categories of sin: Mental attitude sins, sins of the tongue, and overt sins. Notice that murder is the only overt sin listed among the seven worst sins. (Not drunkenness, not fornication but murder).
Physical murder deprives an individual of his right to live given to him by God. Mental murder can be a stumbling block to someone’s spiritual growth.
The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life: Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.
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