(THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD)
Kingdom Inheritance Today
The Kingdom of God Today
Five
THE BODY OF CHRIST/THE INHERITANCE/THE KINGDOM OF GOD
"... since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear," Hebrews 12'28.
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QQIn God's eyes, members of the Body of Christ at this end of the age are individuals who have gone the same journey as the Lord Jesus.
should be the same as at the start of the end of the age.
Standing as one of the early BelieversWe have repented and received Christ and the Father's forgiveness we are truly converted and walking in There are some phrases and sentences in the Kingdom scriptures that are simply stated. And, presumably, they are understood by those who hear or read them.
One example is Galatians 3'5, "Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you". What do Believers understand that to be? Part of the answer could be what is said in Galatians 4'6: "... because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'”
QQAnother example is this: "... since we are receiving a kingdom". One such phrase is this What is the Up to this point these studies of the Kingdom of God Today have
up to this point have covered in have progressed Reading through the scriptures from Matthew to Revelation in an English translation, a New Covenant Believer comes across various words describing Believers as a group. There's flock, building, bride, etc. The most common is church/es with more than 100 mentions.
Where are you coming from? That's an important question, and should be asked more than it is. Because, everyone who holds to certain things or writes about certain things does so from a certain basic standpoint.
So what is the standpoint behind these Kingdom articles? The study, "Hear Him" (see the Menu) explains that the standpoint is that every teaching must harmonise with Jesus' teachings - because they are Kingdom teachings.
That is the same standpoint of the apostles and prophets after the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost.
Therefore, it arises from the context of the scriptures of Acts 1'1 to Revelation 3'22 plus some in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
For it is within those scriptures that the teachings of The Body of Christ, The Believers' Inheritance, and The Kingdom of God are found.
Underscoring these studies is the Lord's very significant prophecy that ...
“... this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come," Matthew 24'14.
The word "this" puts today's good news of the Kingdom of God in the context of His New Covenant. Therefore, His standpoint is New Covenant Kingdom. It's this good news He wanted to be preached right through to "the end".
The first Believers preached it and lived it.
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Sometime earlier than His prophecy Jesus had said, “I will build My Ekklesia" (Matthew 16'18). But how?
Firstly, the Greek word "ekklesia" means "called out ones". It's made up of ek, meaning out and kaleo meaning call, "call out".
Although "Follow Me" might seem more like a command than a call in today's thinking, the Lord said it, when He chose His Disciples, for example.
But the longtime-used English word for ekklesia is "church", which doesn't convey clearly what the Lord was meaning.
And how would He build it? Ephesians 2'20 talks of the Ekklesia, being "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone".
So the Kingdom good news that He said will be preached is to be according to Him and according to His New Covenant.
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On the Day of Pentecost those who had responded to Jesus' call and followed Him were the first to receive the Holy Spirit.
The immediate result was that Peter took the lead and preached to the large number of Jews and Jewish converts who had gathered to celebrate the Feast. It was the first good news message preached "by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven," 1 Peter 1'12.
From then on this body of new disciples:
"... continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers," Acts 2'42.
After the Lord had called Paul to be an apostle the New Testament writings began and increased disciples' understandings of God's salvation and kingdom.
Over time, Believers came into contact more and more with powerful understandings such as these - it's almost a list of blessings:
"... you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy," 1 Peter 2'9-10.
With these words Peter, again by the Holy Spirit, furthers Jesus' teachings. All people, whatever they were before receiving Christ can understand that they "are now the people of God".
The Way, as they were called at the beginning, grew and became established. Both Jews and Gentiles, now Christ's Called-Out People, could now exist together, understanding that they were one in Christ - the Body of Christ.
And Paul declares: "Now you are the Body of Christ, and members individually" in a letter to the Saints at Corinth (1:12'27). And Christ is "head of the Ekklesia and He is the Saviour of the Body," Ephesians 5'23.
So all ex-unbelievers have been called out of darkness into Christ's marvelous light and made members of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12'13).
However, there are two very powerful understandings which are very effective against him. Those who are aware of these understandings know they are no longer under Satan's power.
They are:
1. By "... one Spirit we were all immersed into one body - whether Jews or Greeks," 1 Corinthians 12'13.
2. Our heavenly Father "... has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." Colossians 1'13.
Equipped with these understandings disciples know that they are members of the Body of Christ and, therefore, can live in this world as Jesus did.
They know they are righteous (2 Corinthians 5'21) in Christ . But still the enemy attempts to cast doubt. He whispers to them that really they are sinners. Not true!
"THIS" KINGDOM GOOD NEWS
What is Jesus' New Covenant Kingdom? Well, He Himself defines it. by saying. "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven," Luke 11'2.
His listeners knew that a kingdom is about doing a king's will and that the Kingdom and the King's will both amount to the same thing.
The Kingdom way was close to the Lord's heart. During the days of His resurrection life He spoke to the apostles "... of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God" (Acts 1'3).
[At this point they were not born again. But to help them understand, the Lord had breathed the Holy Spirit on them (John 20'22).]
Following the giving of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost these now born-again Spirit-filled New Covenant apostles began spreading the Lord's salvation-kingdom teachings.
All would agree that today's true Believers have the same scriptures re salvation. But what about understanding the Kingdom and the Inheritance?
Near the start of His earthly ministry, the Lord also urged His Disciples to "seek first the Kingdom, and His righteousness". How do Believers respond to this today?
And Jesus refers to “the word of the kingdom" in Matthew 13-23). And what does God have to say about these things?
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When Peter, James and John were with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration a number of surprising things happened. One of them is highly important to all Believers.
Our heavenly Father gave a clear command that affects all Believers. He said:
"Hear Him!”.
In other words, do what He says! It's hearing and doing the will of the Father as Jesus did - first and foremost with ready hearts and minds.
The full sentence the Father spoke was, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!". Believers can also be pleasing to our Father by obeying His command.
And Jesus said: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says" seven times in Revelation 2-3.
The fact is, sinners who repent, who receive Christ and are born again have the ability to hear what the Holy Spirit says. But, according to Jesus, it's up to them to hear it. And do it.
The danger though, is letting other things get in the way!
On one occasion when Jesus encountered some Jews, He asked, and answered, a question: "Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word," John 8'43.
Obviously, they had preconceived ideas and traditions that hindered their hearing. What kind of things block up Believers ears today?
Jesus said: “... whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12'50).
And, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed," John 8'31.
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Nevertheless, Satan is still at work with his same crafty questioning: "Did God really say?" (Genesis 3'1). He still attempts to derail Believers, especially by deception.
However, there are two very powerful understandings which are very effective against him. Those who are aware of these understandings know they are no longer under Satan's power.
They are both true of all who are born again:
1. By "... one Spirit we were all immersed into one body - whether Jews or Greeks," 1 Corinthians 12'13.
2. Our heavenly Father "... has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." Colossians 1'13.
Believers know they are members of the Body of Christ and can live in this world as Jesus did.
They know they are righteous in Christ (2 Corinthians 5'21). But still the enemy attempts to cast doubt. He whispers to them that really they are sinners. Not true!
Remember when he tempted Adam and Eve? They allowed him to succeed. But in complete contrast to Adam, the Lord surrendered His will to His Father's will in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Hebrews 12'2 says why:
"... who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
And what is "the joy that was set before Him"? It's seeing His Called-Out Ones doing His Father's will.
Therefore, "... submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you," James 4'7-8.
Jesus didn't say that His New Covenant Kingdom of God is good news for nothing. Believers are called into a lifestyle.
So, "... walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory," 1 Thessalonians 2'12.
THE LORD, THE BODY AND THE KINGDOM
John explained something in advance, saying that Jesus ...
"... spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified," John 7'39.
These words were fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. The Lord had been glorified. Together with the Father, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, upon the waiting Believers.
Consequently, the Spirit inspired Peter and the apostles to begin preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.
From then on the number of Believers grew and spread and ...
"... they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers," Acts 2'42.
These early Believers were said to be "of The Way" (Jesus). They were in fact the Body of Christ living His New Covenant Kingdom way - where Jesus Christ is Lord ...
"... to the intent that now
the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the Ekklesia
to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord
in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him," Ephesians 3'10-11.
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The Kingdom of God is the wisdom of God.
"Therefore, walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory," 1 Thessalonians 2'12.
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear," Hebrews 12'28.