N.T. CHURCH SERIES # 4

Descriptions of the Church --- "The Kingdom of God"

Intro:

    1. We want to continue our study on the importance of understanding the Nature of the N.T. Church.
    2. We have already seen that the N.T. church that was established in AD.33.
      1. During the period of AD 33- AD 96, and the close of the NT the church is referred to in many different names
      2. We have established the fact that although different names are used, it is of the same institution.
    3. The study that we are presently engaged in is the study of these different descriptive names, yet of the same institution, the NT Church.
      1. We have studied what is the "church"- being the called out of the world into the body of Christ
        1. The importance of "being called out"
        2. The benefits that go with being called out.
      2. We have also studied the aspect of "the House of God."
        1. Here we noticed that this term signifies the family feature of God's chosen children
        2. We also saw the blessedness of this relationship and the demands that this relationship has on us as children.
        3. Tonight we want to look at another of these descriptive names that is used frequently of the church, and that is the "kingdom of God"
    4. In our lesson on the establishment of the church, we proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the kingdom and the church were the same institution.
      1. Therefore, it is not necessary for me to repeat all this material but rather one proof will suffice:
        1. Mk. 9:1 ..."Kingdom will come with power."
        2. Acts 1:8 .."Power will come with the H.S."
        3. Acts 2:4 .."H.S. came on Pentecost Ad 33.
        4. Thus H.S. came - Power Came - if Power came the Kingdom came.
        5. But On that same day those who received the word of God and were baptized where added to the church...Acts 2:47.
      2. There are many other proofs which we have already noticed and discussed in some detail, however the fact remains that whether we speak of "the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Christ, or the Kingdom of heaven we have in mind the same institution.
      3. The church is often spoken of as the kingdom of heaven. As the kingdom is truly from heaven and not of this world....cf. John 18:36.
        1. This terminology is used 33 times in the N.T. and is peculiar to the writings of Matthew.
      4. The term kingdom of God is used 69 times in the N.T. of the same institution, the church.
    5. So let us now take note of what is referred to by the term Kingdom.


Body:

  1. THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
    1. Firstly it would be wise for us to note what is actually meant by the term "kingdom".
      1. Kingdom comes from the greek word BASILEIA and from the Hebrew word MALKUTH.
        1. Vines defines these words as...."it is primarily an abstract noun, denoting sovereignty, royal power, dominion...eg...Rev. 17:18 ..., then by metonymy, a concrete noun, denoting the territory or people over whom a king rules...eg. Matt. 3:24 ; 4:8. It is especially of the kingdom of God and of Christ". (Vines Expository Dict. p. 634)
        2. Thayer says of the same word..."Royal power, kingship, dominion and rule." (Thayer's Greek-English Lex. p. 96).
        3. Webster defines the word kingdom in this manner..."The territory over which a king or queen has authority". (New Lex. of Webster's Dict. of English Language. p. 541)
    2. From these three definitions of the word "kingdom" one must logically conclude that the kingdom of Scripture:
      1. Denotes God's sovereignty over the universe.
      2. That it denotes a Kings sovereignty - power - dominion - and his rule of law.
      3. Denotes the territory over which He has jurisdiction.
      4. Denotes the citizens or subjects over which he rules.
      5. As well as the word used in a comprehensive sense of all these combined together.
        1. Thus logic tells us that for anything to be considered or to be referred to as a kingdom there must of necessity be four essentials:
          1. A KING
          2. A TERRITORY
          3. SUBJECTS
          4. A LAW
    3. Why is it so important to have such a thorough knowledge and understanding of the term kingdom:
      1. "The religious world is full of misunderstandings on the subject and it has always been the most fruitful area for speculators"...(Foy E Wallace.. God's Prophetic Word"
      2. "Every apostasy in history of the church has involved some kind of misunderstanding of the kingdom"....James P. Needham
      3. Many brethren today do not understand the nature and function of the kingdom of God.
    4. These terms are used in the spiritual Realm --- showing and denoting the rule of God with many modifiers:
      1. The Kingdom of God.... used 32 times in Matthew.
        1. Simplest explanation would be that heaven is the dwelling place, cf Lk. 15:18...."He said he sinned against heaven, but in truth he sinned against God.
      2. The kingdom of God is possessive in nature - displaying the essence of God as designer and creator...cf Matt. 6:33 ; 26:29.
      3. These two terms are used synoymously ---cf Mk. 1:15 and Matt. 3:2...both the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God were at hand in Christ's teaching.
    5. All this brings me to the point that the church is often referred to as being a "kingdom" of God, heaven or of Christ.
      1. Let us therefore note whether the church indeed constitutes the four crucial and essentials of a kingdom.


  2. THE CHURCH AS A KINGDOM. (Display chart the four essentials of a kingdom)


    1. What is the territory of the kingdom?
      1. "ALL THE WORLD" ...cf Matt. 28:18-20 ; Mk 16:15-16.
      2. "EVERY NATION" ...cf Isa. 2:2-3 ; Rom. 16:25-26.


    2. Who are the subjects of the kingdom?
      1. "ALL NATIONS" ...cf Isa. 2:2-3 ; Acts 10:34-35.
      2. "EVERY CREATURE"...cf Mk.16:15-16.
      3. "WHOSOEVER WILLS"...cf Rom. 10:13 ; Rev. 22:17.


    3. Who is the King?
      1. Christ is the king!
        1. By his own teachings...cf Lk. 23:1-3 ; John 18:37.
        2. He was victorious in Conguering...cf Heb. 2:9, 14-15 ; Rev. 1:18 ; I John. 3:8 ; Matt. 12:24-29 ; Lk. 11:17-22.
        3. He has authority and a throne....cf Lk. 1:32-33 ; Eph. 1:18-23 ; Matt. 28:18 ; I Tim. 6:15 ; I Peter 3:22.


    4. What is the law that we are under?
      1. It is the Law of Christ....cf John 12:48 ; 1:17 ; 17:8 ; I Cor. 9:21 ; I John 4:6.
      2. It is the word of God...Psa. 19:7 ; James 2:12 ; Rom. 10:17.
      3. It is the perfect law...James 1:25.
        1. All sufficient law...II Tim. 3:16-17 ; II Peter 1:3 ; Eph. 3:1-4.


    5. Having established the fact that all four essentials of a kingdom are in the church it is noteworthy to say it is right that the church be referred to as the "kingdom of God, Christ, heaven!"


  3. WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS TO BE A CITIZEN IN GOD'S KINGDOM???


    1. One must enter by a new birth...John 3:5 ; Acts 2:36-41.
      1. To be born of the Spirit means to be born of the teachings of the Spirit...I Cor. 12:13 ; James 1:18 ; I Peter 1:2 ; I Cor. 4:15.
      2. To be born of the water is to be buried in baptism... Rom. 6:4 ; Gal. 3:26-27 ,29.


    1. We must humbly do God's will...Mk. 10:15 ; Matt. 18:3.
    2. We must center our affections on heavenly things... Phil. 3:12-15 ; Col. 3:1-4.
    3. We must be busy in service - the greatness of the kingdom is measured by service rendered...Matt. 20:20-28.
    4. Must be united....Lk. 11:17 ; Matt. 12:25.
    5. We must make sacrifice....Matt. 20:1 ; Mk. 10:23-31 ; Rom 12:1-2.




Conclusion:

    1. What a privilege it is to be part of this wonderful Kingdom...Matt. 11:11 ; Isa. 2:2.
    2. If you have not obeyed - you are not part there of... John 3:5.
    3. Why not obey and become a child of God in his kingdom tonight?




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