To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 18:35:16 -0600
Subject: [HF] Bible Study HF073 - A Kingdom Not of This World
Hebraics,
In Psalm
84:3, David says, "The bird also has found a house,
and
the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even
Your altars, O Lord of host, My king and my God." It is
interesting
how that David speaks of the Lord God as his King. In the study to
follow we want to consider what it means to have Jesus Christ as
our King.
This is Bible Study HF073 - A Kingdom Not of This World.
We readily acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior. But the
issue of Him being King isn't always called to mind. Perhaps we
feel his Kingship is encompassed in the idea of Lord and Savior,
and indeed it is. But a King is exactly what Jesus is. And in order
for a king to rule, he must have a kingdom.
It is here that we need to understand what the term 'kingdom' of
God means. Kingdom (basileia) in Greek speaks of sovereignty, or
power, but in an abstract sense it refers to the power exercised by
a king. So the kingdom of God refers to God's direct rule.
In questioning Jesus, Pilate became frustrated. His wife had
warned him not to do harm to Jesus. In speaking to Jesus, Pilate
says, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Some think that Pilate
asked
this in jest. I don't believe this is the case. Pilate is too
disturbed
over Jesus to be joking around.
The Lord responds, "Are you saying this on your own initiative,
or
did others tell you about Me?" Pilate is confused over Jesus,
and
he responds, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the
chief
priests delivered You to me; what have You done?" Isn't this an
amazing interchange? The King of the universe is under scrutiny by
a Roman prelate.
It is here that Jesus explains His kingdom. Listen carefully;
"My
kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then
My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over
to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this
realm."
Jesus says His kingdom is not of this world. The Greek word for
world, 'kosmos', refers to something that is well arranged or
adorned. Jesus says his kingdom is not an arrangement or an
adornment to be seen with the eyes. It is not a worldly kingdom.
The Lord adds, 'My kingdom is not of this realm.' The word
'enteuthen' (realm) means His kingdom is not from here, or, on this
side. Entheuthen is a point of reference that is near the speaker. So
again the Lord is saying 'My kingdom is not from here.'
What Jesus says next puts His kingdom rule into its spiritual
essence. Pilate responds, "So You are a king?" The Lord
says,
"You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and
for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone
who is of the truth hears My voice." (Cf. John
18:33-37)
Now we come to the crux of the matter. If the Lord's kingdom is
not
of this world, then His subjects must not be of this world.
Secondly,
the Lord points out that only His subjects are able to hear His
voice. And thirdly, the Lord says His kingdom is all about
truth.
Now we have the elements that describe the Lord's kingdom.
(1) His kingdom is not of this world.
(2) His subjects are not of this world.
(3) Only His subjects hear His voice.
(4) His subjects to not fight. (Not in the sense of worldly kingdoms.
Their weaponry is not of the flesh.)
(5) His kingdom is about Truth.
What does this tell us up front? It tells us that the kingdom of Jesus
Christ cannot be put in religious terms. Various religions have their
traditions of worship, but as I shared in our last study, religion is
what man does. Relationship and reality is what God does for us in
Christ. (Keep in mind that 'Truth is a Person.')
Hence the problem -- If His kingdom is not of this world, and His
subjects are not of this world, and only His subjects can hear His
voice, and His kingdom is about Truth, and His subjects to not
fight, how can we ever expect to recognize His kingdom? How can
anyone find it? How can anyone enter into it?
Every born again person knows the answer. The only way to enter
into what Paul calls 'the kingdom of His Beloved Son,' is to be born
into it. And the only way to be born into it is to 'take to yourself'
Jesus Christ as your own personal Lord and Savior.
John says, "He came to His own, and those who were His own
did
not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave
the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in
His name." (John
1:11,12)
The word 'receive' in Greek, is 'paralambano.' It means to take
someone to yourself. We get the idea from the wedding vow,
where the minister says, "Do you, Bill, take Susan to be your
wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health,
etc."
The minister is asking Bill if he will take Susan to himself in
union.
This is what receiving Jesus means. It is a thing of the heart. But
it
does require a confession of faith. (Like the marriage.)
John adds, "Even to those who believe in His name." The
Greek
word for believe, that is, 'pisteuo', means to put faith in a person,
to
rely on, to trust in, to adhere to. To believe in His name means to
accept who Jesus really is, that is, to believe in the full message
of
the gospel, and in His authority.
What happens when a person 'takes to them self' Jesus Christ?
They are born into the kingdom of God's Son. Paul says a transfer
takes place; "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and
transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son." (Col
1:13)
How about the truth part and the voice part? The gospel is a
message from heaven. It carries all the authority and power that is
needed to cause a person to be born again. (Or, 'born-from-
above.') In the gospel Jesus Christ speaks. This is why Paul said,
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of
Christ."
(Word, or rhema, refers to a living voice.)
The word 'Truth' in Greek, speaks of the reality that is behind
an
appearance. To realize truth is to become fully cognizant of the
Person and Presence of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the way,
and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through
Me." When a person is born from above, that birth brings a new
spiritual reality into their life. The realness does not go away. It
will
be there from day, to day, to day.
As for His voice, this also speaks of the Lord's Kingly ministry.
The
issue of Jesus being our King is very real to a believer. And
hearing His voice is also very real. Jesus explained it this way;
"I
have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them
also,
and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with
one shepherd."
And again, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and
they
follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never
perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand." (Cf. John
10)
Rather than carry the study any further at this point, let's put it
out for discussion. Feel free to ask questions or provide additional
dialogue on the subject 'A Kingdom Not of This World.'
The Lord bless you,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.christianchallenge.org/
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace
of God; that no root of bitterness springing up
causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb
12:15)