The Biblical Right to Bear Arms

1. God, not the government, gives people the right to bear arms.
2. Jesus taught that a strong man armed keeps his goods in peace.

            “When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:” (Luk 11:21).

            Jesus here teaches that we can protect not only our lives with arms, but our goods also.

III.   Jesus taught that a goodman (male head of a household) would not suffer (allow) his house to be broken up (broken into).

            “But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.” (Mat 24:43)

            “If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3)  If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.” (Exo 22:2-3)

1. Jesus told His disciples to acquire them a sword (a superior weapon of self defense), even it if meant having to selling their clothes to buy one.

            “Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.” (Luk 22:36)

            The disciples had two swords which Jesus said was sufficent.

            “And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.” (Luk 22:38).

            Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “I meant a spiritual sword!”

            This tells us that it is sufficient to carry two guns.

1. It is prudence and good faith to trust God for your safety, which taking reasonable precautions to protect yourself.

            “Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.  14) And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. 15)  And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. 16)  And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. 17)  They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. 18)  For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.” (Neh 4:13-18)

            Safety is of the Lord, but the horse should still be prepared for the battle.

            “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.” (Pro 21:31)

1. It is a wicked despotic government that attempts prevent the populous from having arms.

            “Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:” (1Sa 13:19)