One of the fundamental differences brought about by the new covenant is the fact that the locus of the people of God under this covenant no longer constitutes a nation, but an international community not to be identified with any nation. This means that the loyalty of Christians to their state must always be conditional. (2) Even if the state has the right—indeed, the obligation—to use the sword in defense of justice, we had better recognize the propensity of all states, and of all individuals in