Study on Kingdom of God.
(The Uniqueness of the Lord's Church)
Basis=John 18:36
Intro:
1. The Lord has blessed me to allow me to visit and preach
in many countries of the world...South America, Africa,
Europe.
2. Visiting these countries has taught me great
appreciation for my own country.
3. I feel fortunate to be a citizen of the USA
4. Yet, I have a greater citizenship, Eph 2:19
5. This nation is the greatest of all!
Not of this world, John 18:33-37
6. You are a special group of people..unique
a. you are a part of the Lord's church
b. you say, "What's so special about that?"
c. I'm glad you asked!
7. Today, and next few weeks, we will answer that..we
will be studying the uniqueness of the Lord's church
a. Purpose:
(1) to help you feel the importance of being a
Christian
(2) to help you know why others would want to be a
Christian
(3) to help you appreciate your blessings of being a
Christianity.
b. Method: studying the Biblical descriptions of the
relationships Christians have with God, I Pet 2:9,10
8. Today: Citizens of a unique kingdom...a kingdom not of
this world
a. "you are fellow citizens with the saints", Eph 2:19
b. this kingdom of which we are citizens is not an
earthly kingdom
c. John 18:33-37
9. To appreciate our citizenship, we need to know more
about a kingdom that is not of this world.
I. This Kingdom Must Have A King Not Of This World.
1. Not of this world in His origin
a. a non-earthly kingdom must have a non-earthly
king.
b. our king existed before the world was created,
Jn 1:1-3;8:23 Jn 17:14,16 Phil 2:5-8
2. Not of this world in His character
a. our king walked on earth, but did not live like
the world.
b. Heb 2:17,18, 4:15
c. He neither sought nor loved the things of the
world.
d. Pilate could find no guilt in Him, John 18:38
e. Jews had to have false witnesses to kill Him.
3. Not of this world in the length of His kingly office
a. even the greatest worldly kingdoms fade (David;
Rome; Babylon)
b. His kingdom and rule would never fail, Dan 2:44,
Lk 1:31-33
c. His reign is consumated in victory, I Cor 15:24,25
d. He is NOW reigning, Act 2:36
II. This Kingdom Must Have Laws Not Of This World
1. not of this world in their ORIGIN.
a. "from heaven or from men" principle, Mt 21:25,26
b. gospel not from this world, Gal 1:11, I Thess 2:13
2. only our king has legislative authority, Mt 28:18
a. we are to listen to Him in EVERYTHING, Act 3:22,23
b. His kingdom is a monarchy..not democracy
(1) not governed by voice of the people
(2) not by councils, popes, delegates, elders, or
ourselves.
3. Laws not of this world in their Nature
a. not appealing to worldly nature, I Cor 1:18-25
4. Laws are not of this world in Design and Power
a. intended to bring men to faith, Jn 20:31..able
to do so.
b. intended to convict, convert, Jn 16:8..able to do
so
c. intended to save, Rom 1:16...able to do so, Jam 1:21
5. "Laws" of this world have no such authority, power,
nature
III. This Kingdom Must Have Subjects That Are Not Of This
World.
1. Their origin is of the world, but they must be born
again into a new world, kingdom
2. They are not of this world in their conduct.
a. not conformed to it, Rom 12:2
b. not to love the world, I Jn 2:15,16
c. not to fellowship world, 2 Cor 6:14-18
d. keep ourselves unspotted from the world, Jam 1:27
3. Not of the world in their thinking, values, objectives
Col 3:1-2, Mt 6:33 2 Cor 5:7 Phil 4:8
4. Not of this world in their destiny
a. to be delivered to God, I Cor 15:24
b. eternal life is prepared for these citizens
Conclusion:
1. Doesn't this help you to:
a. appreciate your blessings?
b. try harder to fulfill your responsibilities?
c. tell others about these blessings?
2. maybe you are not a citizen of this kingdom
3. if not, why not? why not be born into God's kingdom
today?
4. The Lord's church is truly unique...out of the world.
==END==
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