The Kingdom Of Heaven

Introduction:

Our savior used the word Kingdom over 75 times, as recorded in the New Testament. He sometimes called it the Kingdom of Heaven, and sometimes he called it the Kingdom of God. Note how they are used interchangeably in Matthew 4: 17 and Mark 1: 14-15. Kingdom refers to God's kingship or rule from heaven. Often, in the Old Testament, this idea of God's domain and rule is his rule over the entire world.

He sits upon a throne, Psalm 103: 19. The host of heaven surrounds him, 1 Kings 22: 19, and He appoints rulers in the world, Daniel 2: 37, 4: 17. He is the king of the entire world, 1 Chronicles 29: 11, and his rule is everlasting, Psalms 145: 13.

However, the Old Testament speaks much about a Kingdom being established in the future. Note Daniel 2: 44, these kings—the Roman kings—and Daniel 7: 13-14. This kingdom did not exist yet, yet God promised it would one day.

Body:

1.      The arrival of the Kingdom

·         It was during the days of the Roman kings that John the Baptist said in Matthew 3: 2, “at hand," adding “drawn near.” During this same time, Jesus said in Matthew 4:17 the Kingdom was near but had not yet been established. Then we have these words of Christ in Mark 1: 15, “The time is fulfilled”—it was time for those Old Testament prophecies, like Daniels, to come true and be brought to completion.

·         The reign of God was to be revealed in a new way. Jesus declared this in Matthew 16: 28. Then, shortly before he is crucified while eating the Passover meal in the upper room in Jerusalem, he says in Luke 22:18, “For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

·         But notice what Peter declares in Acts 2: 30-36. Jesus had been anointed king, and the apostles were using the keys of the Kingdom to open it (Matthew 16: 18-19). Before Pentecost, the Kingdom is said to be coming in the near future, while after Pentecost, it is said to be in existence (Colossians 1: 13).

2.      The characteristics of the Kingdom

·         the Kingdom is spiritual in nature, John 18: 36, Romans 14: 17. It cannot be destroyed. The seed of the Kingdom is the word of God, Luke 8: 11.

·         One enters the Kingdom by being born again- experiencing the new birth, John 3: 1-6. The born-again Christian becomes a new creation, 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11.

·         Jesus is ruling over the Kingdom now. He is the king of kings, 1 Timothy 6: 15. Also Ephesians 1: 20-23.

·         One day, the king will return in judgment, Matthew 25: 31-33. The faithful citizens of the Kingdom will have their bodies transformed into glorious bodies, Philippians 3: 20-21.

3.      Conclusion:

·         Matthew 13:37-43, “He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.  38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.  39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.  40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.  41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Sermon prepared by Bobby Stafford

October 20, 2024

Prepared by Bobby Stafford

The church of Christ at Granby, MO

Located at
516 East Pine St.
P.O. Box 664
Granby, Mo. 64844
(417) 472-7109

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