The Kingdom Part 4

The Kingdom Part 4

In Acts chapter one, it is recorded that during the forty days between Jesus’ resurrection and His ascension to heaven, Jesus spoke of the things “pertaining to the kingdom of God.” 

"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" - Acts 1:3 

It was during this forty-day period that Jesus gave His commission to His disciples that instructed how to enter the kingdom of God. 

"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." - Luke 24:45-49 

"For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." - Acts 1:5 

The new birth into the kingdom would include repentance, remission of sins in His name (baptized with  water), and the Holy Ghost (baptized with the Spirit). 

"Then returned they unto Jerusalem…And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room…These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication…" - Acts 1:12-14 

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1, 4 

The apostles did as Jesus commanded, that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47). 

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 

The keys to the kingdom were revealed. (John 3:5).

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter…And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven" - Matthew 16:18-19 

The Kingdom - Part 3

The Kingdom - Part 3

To be in the kingdom of God, we must not only get oil in our lamps (born of the Spirit - John 3:5), but we must KEEP full of oil (full of the Holy Ghost - Acts 6:3).

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom…" - Matthew 25:1 (See verses 2-13).

The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom entered by repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus, and receiving the Holy Ghost. The kingdom of God is within us. (John 3:5, Acts 2:38).

"The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." - Luke 17:20-21 

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." - Romans 14:17 

"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." - 1 Corinthians 4:20 

When we enter the kingdom of God by being born of water and of the Spirit, we receive the power of the Spirit that is life changing.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8 

The power of the Holy Ghost gives us a life changing experience that we become witnesses of. By the Holy Ghost and baptism in the name of Jesus we are washed, sanctified, and justified. 

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind [practice homosexuality], nor thieves, nor covetous [greedy of gain], nor drunkards, nor revilers [are abusive], nor extortioners [cheat people], shall inherit the kingdom of God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 

WERE!!

"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:11

By the gospel - repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost - we are transformed, able to enter into the kingdom! (John 3:5).

Church!

Church!

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." - Psalm 100:1-5 KJV

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." - Psalm 16:11

The Kingdom - Part 2

The Kingdom Part 2

Jesus went everywhere, preaching the kingdom of God.

"And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him," - Luke 8:1 KJV

Jesus told Nicodemus how we enter the kingdom of God.

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." - John 3:5 KJV

Jesus gave Peter the keys to the kingdom. 

"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven..." - Matthew 16:19 KJV (Matthew speaks of the kingdom as “the kingdom of heaven,” while Mark, Luke, and John speak of the kingdom as “the kingdom of God.”)

With the keys from Jesus, Peter, full of the Holy Ghost, made clear what being born of water and of the Spirit is and exactly how we enter the kingdom.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

We are born of the water when we are water baptized in the name of Jesus. We are born of the Spirit when we are Spirit baptized, filled with the Holy Ghost. 

When we enter the kingdom of God by being born of water and of the Spirit to live our lives for God, we must not look back to the world of sin. 

"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:62 KJV

If we went to be secure in the kingdom, we must forgive others, just as Jesus forgave us when we repented of our sins and were baptized in His name for the remission of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Mark 11:26, Matthew 6:12, 14-15, Colossians 3:13, Matthew 18:23-35).

To be continued…

The Kingdom

The Kingdom

When the angel Gabriel came to Mary, he spoke to her about her son and His kingdom.

"And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." - Luke 1:33 KJV

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus preached about the kingdom. During His ministry, Jesus taught many, many things about the kingdom.

"Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." - Mark 1:14-15 KJV

Jesus taught His disciples to pray about the kingdom.

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. ... And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." - Matthew 6:9-10, 13 KJV

Jesus taught we must seek first the kingdom.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33 KJV

Jesus told Peter,

"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." - Matthew 16:19 KJV

Jesus spoke of the gospel of the kingdom when His disciples asked Him about the end of the world.

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." - Matthew 24:14 KJV

Jesus told His disciples the kingdom was a mystery, but the mystery was revealed to them.

"And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:" - Mark 4:11 KJV

Forgiveness

Is it necessary for salvation to forgive?

Jesus told a story of a servant that owed the king ten thousand talents. He could not pay the debt, so the king ordered him and his family to be sold for payment. 

The servant fell down and worshipped him, asking for patience and promising to pay all. 

The king was moved with compassion, loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 

The same servant went to a fellowservant, which owed him an hundred pence: he laid hands on him, took him by the throat and said, “Pay me what you owe.”

The fellowservant fell down begging him, asking for patience and promising to pay all, but he threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 

When his fellow servants saw this, they were very sorry, and told the king all that was done. 

Then the king said to him, “You wicked servant, I forgave you all your debt, because you asked me. Shouldn't you also have had compassion on your fellowservant, even as I had on you?” 

And the king was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 

"So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." - Matthew 18:35 KJV 

[See Matthew 18:23 – Matthew 18:35 for the complete Bible text of this story that Jesus told.]

When we could not pay our debt of sin, Jesus our King had compassion on us and forgave us. Our sins have been forgiven and washed away by the blood of Jesus when we repented and were water baptized in the name of Jesus.

According to Matthew 18: 34-35, if we are going to be like the wicked servant that REFUSED to forgive the VERY small debt that his fellowservant owed, our debt of sin that Jesus suffered and died for will be returned to us.

Part 22

Part 22 - I am baptized in the name of Jesus to become the temple of God.

Just as the Temple in Jerusalem and the body (Temple) of Jesus were both called by the name of the Lord, we too, as the Temple of God are called by the name of the Lord.

We receive His name, JESUS, when we are baptized in water in the name of Jesus, having the name of Jesus called upon us. (Acts 2:38).

Solomon spoke of the temple of God he built.

"That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place." - 1 Kings 8:29 

Jesus spoke of being the temple of God.

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body." - John 2:19-21

Jesus is called by God's name.

"I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." - John 5:43 

Just as the Temple and the Body of Christ were both filled with the glory of God, we, too, when we receive the Holy Ghost, are filled with the glory of God.

As the temple of God, we have the name of Jesus called upon us and the Spirit of Jesus in us.

"For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." - 2 Corinthians 6:16 (Also: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17).