Indeed. We (the believers) are the church.
Agreed. That is why I was careful to say, "in a church building."
To which "rulers" have you submitted? That is the crux - because those are the "rulers" you will be required to render unto...
The majority do not discern they have a choice the matter.
What choice did the Jews of New Testament times have? Could they have said, "We don't like being under the rule of the Roman Emperor. We'll become an independent country again"? Of course they couldn't. In democracies we have a choice of who to vote for when there is an election, but by no means everybody votes for the candidate or the party who will eventually get into the parliament, senate, or whatever.
That all is describing Godly authority - not the pretender.
But the "authority" in those days was Emperor Nero.
and
They are the same thing. There is absolutely no difference.
CONTRACT. A promissory agreement between two or more persons that creates, modifies, or destroys a
legal relation.
Black's Law Dictionary, p. 394.
CERTIFICATE. A written assurance made or issuing from some
court, and designed as a notice of things done therein, or as a warrant or
authority, to some other court, judge, or officer.
Black's Law Dictionary, p. 285.
So you are admitting that your authority is the State. If not, then why did you sign the State's "marriage certificate"?
My marriage certificate is not a contract with the state. Here is the wording of my marriage certificate. As you will see, there is absolutely nothing there agreeing to any contract with the state:
"Registration District Newton Abbot
1985 Marriage solemnized at Wesley Church - East Dawlish in the District of Newton Abbot in the County of Devon
No.39 When Married: Sixth day of April 1985
(groom) Name and Surname: David John LAMB Age: 35 yrs Condition:Bachelor Rank or Profession:School Teacher Residence at time of Marriage:28 Prospect, Eastcliff Road, Dawlish Father's Name and Surname: Leslie Ronald LAMB Rank or Profession of Father: Tool Designer
(bride) Name and Surname:Jean Eileen McDONALD Age:32 yrs Condition: Spinster Rank or Profession:Nursery Nurse Residence at time of Marriage: 15 Clovelly Rise, Oaklands Park, Dawlish Father's Name and Surname: Ivor Alan McDONALD Rank or Profession of Father: Retired Social Worker
Married in the Methodist Church according to the rites and ceremonies of the Methodists by Certificate.
This Marriage was solemnized between us, D. Lamb, J.E.McDonald in the Presence of us,S. Lamb, I.A.McDonald and in the presence of John Lander, Authorised Person for the said Church, co-signed by Philip A.Grist, formerly pastor, Prettygate Baptist Church, Colchester."
All the certificate provides are the details of the marriage, such as who was married, where, when, etc.
Again, the salient question remains: "To which authority have you chosen to submit?"
IOW, who do you look to, for the authority to do the things that you do? Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
My ultimate authority is God Himself. If some other authority, like the national or local government, were to tell me to do something that God forbids, or not to do something that God commands, then I would have to disobey the earthly authority in order to obey God.
