Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). Christ is Lord over the church, every nation, every ruler, and every part of life. Nothing exists outside His authority.
Yet Christ governs all things in different ways. Through His covenant with Noah, God preserves the common life shared by humanity, including marriage and family, work and provision, and civil order (Genesis 8:20-9:17). Through the promises and accomplishment of the Covenant of Grace, Christ gathers a redeemed people for faith and worship. This distinction is what we mean by the doctrine of two kingdoms.
God established civil government for the public good. Its responsibility is to protect its citizens, restrain evil, commend what is good, and punish wrongdoing proportionately (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17). Christians should pray for governing authorities, obey lawful commands, and seek the welfare of their communities (1 Tim. 2:1-2).
Jesus has given His church a different calling. The church doesn’t possess the sword or force people to believe. It proclaims God’s Word, administers baptism and the Lord’s Supper, exercises church discipline, makes disciples, and holds out Christ to sinners.
Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). He wasn’t denying His authority over the world. He was explaining that His redemptive kingdom doesn’t come from this world or advance through its methods. Christ builds His church through the gospel, not political power or coercion.
This distinction keeps both the church and civil government within their God-given callings. The government must punish wrongdoing, but Christ has not commissioned it to preach the gospel or make disciples. The church calls sinners to repentance, but it has not been authorized to govern through civil force.
This is also why we reject theonomy and reconstructionism. The judicial laws given to Old Testament Israel expired with that nation and do not bind modern governments as a civil covenant. Their general moral principles still instruct us, but Israel’s civil laws are not a governing blueprint for nations today (1689 London Baptist Confession, 19.4).
Christians should take their civic responsibilities seriously. We should vote, speak up for what Scripture calls good, oppose what it calls evil, and work for our neighbors’ welfare. Some Christians may also serve by holding public office.
Certain political convictions are grounded clearly in Scripture. Other policy questions require prudence, and faithful Christians may disagree. We must not identify any political party or platform with the gospel or forget that our political opponents are neighbors made in God’s image who need the same Savior we do.
Where Scripture speaks clearly, we must speak clearly. Where Scripture does not prescribe a particular policy, we should refuse to bind one another’s consciences or make political agreement a test of Christian faithfulness.
Our hope doesn’t rise or fall with an election, political party, or nation. Jesus Christ is already reigning. His redemptive kingdom advances as sinners hear the gospel, repent, believe, and are gathered into His church.
Let’s seek the good of our earthly neighbors while remembering that our lasting citizenship is in heaven and our true King is Christ (Philippians 3:20).