Two Worlds

 Two Worlds

 

Ever since the fall of Lucifer from heaven, along with the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden, the entire "universe" of all reality has been divided into two distinct realms.  On the one hand, is the Kingdom of God, the created part of it now ruled over by the crucified, risen, glorified, and crowned God/Man Jesus Christ.  On the other hand is every reprobate rational being--be they of demons and/or human (non-redeemed) sinners.

 

In one sense, as the old saying goes, "Never the twain shall meet."  In other words, the Two Worlds in some ways never engage each other, they can never be reconciled; and, in a very real sense, the "fallen" World can never understand the redeemed World.

 

. . . But, in another sense, these Two Worlds collide and interact everyday in the current environment on earth, preceding The Great Judgment Day.  This dynamic is what Augustine largely dealt with in his City of God tome.  The regenerate members of the true church live on this planet with total unbelievers, and with false members of the visible church, too.  In this way, everything gets all "mixed up."  God does this for the good of His churched saints (and children).  This "rubbing shoulders" with the unredeemed is beneficial for us (and for them).  It keeps us humble and dependent; and it reminds us that only God knows who His elect are in the world--whether they be already gathered into His church, or they be still wandering around lost in the darkness of sin.

 

Even throughout all eternity, there will be "Two Worlds": one will be glorified with Jesus Christ in heaven--as it fully enjoys the fellowship of The Holy Trinity; the other will be separated in hell, cut off from all the hope of the gospel of Christ.

 

The nature of the Two Worlds becomes especially interesting, contentious, and dangerous, when the Two put forth their respective "gospels."  The Kingdom of God preaches Jesus in His gospel; the grace, mercy, and love of God; along with a total rejection of works with regard to salvation.  The "other" World--the fallen world of lost sinners--also preaches a "gospel"; but it is a false one of self, pride, performance, and works.  These two "gospels," the one being the true one in Jesus, and the other being the false one of works, can never be reconciled.

 

The only way the Two Worlds are ever "brought together," is when the Holy Spirit works sovereign, miraculous, regenerating grace in the hearts of dead and lost sinners.  At this point, the elect sinner goes from the Dead World, to the Living World (in Jesus).

 

All of the rancor in the world, that we experience today--and which has been experienced since the Fall of Man--is a result of the Two Worlds clashing with one another.  In this sense, it is true, that the Kingdom of God "upset the 'apple cart' "; and initiated the "conflict."  But this is not a "bad" thing; it is a good thing.  Even the opponents of Jesus, His gospel, His church, and His apostles, were forced to say these words, as they are found in Acts 17:6b: "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also," (ESV).

 

Those of us who are in the World of The Kingdom of God, and who, because of this willingly and gladly bow our knees and hearts to our Lord Jesus Christ, must recognize that there is nothing we can do to "bridge" our Living World with the Lost (and Dead) one. Only the Holy Spirit can do this.  As the church preaches the gospel, worships the Triune God on Sundays, properly administers the Sacraments, and prays--we discharge all our essential duties.  The results will be manifest in deeds of love--first to the true church, and then to the lost world.  We leave the "uniting" of these Two Worlds to the wisdom of our Sovereign God.

 

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #146

28 October 2026

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com/

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