The core message of the gospel revolves around the concept of two distinct kingdoms. It is not primarily concerned with human systems like democracy, theocracy, or dictatorship. Instead, it deals with a fundamental philosophy of freedom that transcends specific political or societal structures, emphasizing the separation between the present age and the coming kingdom—the new heaven and the new earth. Salvation, therefore, is not merely about relocating to a place of eternal bliss where we sit passively worshiping God. Rather, it involves the renewal of all creation, including the physical world we know today. In this future reality, there will be no corruption—everything will function perfectly, and God's goodness will prevail. Yet, human life will continue in many of its familiar forms: work, leisure, relationships, and daily activities. The world we inhabit now is not a hellish place; instead, it is a space where God is actively recreating His kingdom within us and through us. This process offers us a glimpse of the future kingdom, and the reality of that future kingdom begins to invade our current experience of time and space. Understanding freedom in biblical terms requires a proper grasp of grace. Without it, no political or religious freedom can be truly understood. Opposition to grace—whether in religious institutions or political governments—is fundamentally rooted in violence. Genuine grace is the full expression of God's word, bringing peace and order to His kingdom. All other powers that oppose this divine order seek to maintain control through violence. To protect His kingdom, God will sometimes enact judgment—sending death or erasing the memory of opponents—because this is how justice and purity are preserved, as described in the Psalms. Ultimately, God's actions serve to uphold His sovereignty and ensure that His peace reigns completely, even if that involves the destruction of those who oppose His rule. The key to understanding these dynamics is that God's kingdom operates through His Word. God alone is the ultimate peacemaker. His method of establishing peace is through His spoken word—His laws, promises, and declarations. When His word flourishes among His people, peace naturally prevails across the entire kingdom. This leads us to consider how God perceives opposition. He describes those who reject His word as speaking harsh and divisive words. In our current age, we tend to separate love from hate, forgiveness from judgment, believing that love is inherently spiritual and therefore incompatible with hate. We assume that God does not permit us to hate anyone. But in biblical terms, love is fundamentally about speaking God's truth. True love does not originate from our own words, which tend to create division or discrimination. Instead, biblical love involves uttering God's words, which promote unity and peace. When we speak our own opinions or make distinctions based on fleshly judgments, we are not truly loving as God loves. The emphasis on caring for the sojourner in Scripture underscores that these individuals were taught not to make unjust distinctions. This concept ties into the gospel of grace—an unmerited favor that unites all people under God's truth. In this framework, there is ultimately only one true definition of freedom—there is no real division between spiritual liberty and political liberty. This unity is a central theme in the Psalms. It also helps explain why the pursuit of spiritual freedom is often accompanied by conflict and violence. While traditional teachings might portray the church as a gentle, helpless mother figure—like a lamb or the poor—these images seem inconsistent with the idea that love can be aggressive or confrontational. How can love, which is supposed to be gentle and forgiving, coexist with the presence of Goliaths and threats that mock and intimidate? The Psalms clarify that there are only two earthly kingdoms: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of man. Sometimes, people think of God's relationship with Israel as if it were a distant, archaic story from the dark ages. But in reality, God's law for Israel was deeply rooted in caring for the marginalized—more so than many of us do today. For example, the Israelites were commanded to treat sojourners with greater kindness than their own kin, which reveals the heart of God's justice and mercy. While there are moments for righteous indignation—such as standing against evil or mocking something deeply wrong—the main focus remains on the core message of grace. Minor disagreements or confrontations are secondary to the overarching truth of God's redeeming love. This grace is sovereign and defensive, not aggressive. The only legitimate justification for hatred, in God's view, is to defend the vulnerable and those who have been wronged or abused. Much of our misunderstanding stems from a lack of awareness about curses—spiritual expressions of God's wrath intended for protection, not aggression. Recognizing curses as a form of divine justice helps us understand God's love more fully. In the Psalms, loving idols and those who worship them is equated with self-hatred—because there are only two kingdoms and two kinds of speech. Loving idols aligns with embracing violence, which stands in opposition to God's kingdom of peace. Therefore, salvation and true liberty involve deliverance from such idolatry.