Calvary Baptist Church, Grenada, MS, USA
Holding to the truths embraced by Baptist for centuries.

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God's Institutions





Ultimately, and in the final analysis, it is God who rules! "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another" (Psalms 75:6-7). Jesus emphasized this when he said to Pontius Pilate: "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above" (John 19:11).

God's Institutions

God gave to mankind four basic institutions: the family, civil government, Israel, and the church. Each of these institutions possess or illustrate certain characteristics of God.

The family illustrates the unity of God - God created mankind as male and female (Gen. 1:27), separated the woman from the man (Gen. 2:21-23), and then united them in marriage in the Garden of Eden, making them one flesh (Gen. 2:24, 25).

Civil government illustrates God's judgment - Following the flood, God instituted government when He said, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man” (Gen. 9:6).

Israel illustrates the election of God - "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth" (Deuteronomy 14:2).

The church illustrates God's love - Jesus said, "...Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). With this statement Jesus prophesied that His Church would never cease to exist on earth until His return at the end of the age.