(Bicento working in our little garden, and our last picture of our flowering plants and shrubs as of this week! We love to putter in our little plot!)In our first communication about the Kingdom of God, I mentioned that the Scriptures speak a lot about this subject, as well as about the kingdoms of this world.
You will find this from the very beginning of Genesis right through to the Book of Revelations. I have to admit that it is not easy to write about or explain the Kingdom of God, and the kingdoms of this world. There are many that are believers in the gospel of the grace of God, who are confused about these two kingdoms. There are many precious believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, who believe that there is a difference between the Kingdom of God and the Gospel. The truth is that the Gospel and the Kingdom of God are inseparable, but it is important to distinguish or identify each from the other.
To begin with, our Lord Himself taught and proclaimed the Kingdom of God. From the beginning of His ministry to the very end, He taught about the Kingdom of God. Take for example, our Lord Jesus’ words to Nicodemus who was a member of the Council of Jews, in John 3:3, where Jesus tells Nicodemus this: "I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again." Then answering Nicodemus’ question and observation, Jesus continues to say: " I tell you the truth, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."
In our previous short word, we mentioned this doctrine, but we can read more about that in various Scriptures that help us to understand by faith. In 1 Peter 1:3-5 we read the following, " Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade –kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." Here we can clearly see that the new birth is related to the death and resurrection of the Lord, and that it is the work of God the Father by means of His Spirit. Further on in 1 Peter 1: 23-25 we read this: " For you have been born again, not by perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For all men are like grass and their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever. And this is the word that was preached to you."
Friends, in the above verses we can see so clearly that the new birth takes place when we hear the WORD of GOD, in the gospel. The Bible says "consequently faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
A simple study of this portion of Scripture indicates so clearly that the message and the Word mean the gospel. The word gospel simply means the good news. We can then conclude that only sinners who repent of their sins when they hear the gospel and obey God by putting their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus, Who died and was raised from the dead for us, will enter the Kingdom of God. The Bible is crystal clear about this truth! All declarations in the Scripture about this truth about the Kingdom of God are sure and irrevocable, because the Word of God is alive and endures forever.
Here are a few Scripture portions for you to read and ponder over that speak about the Kingdom of God: Acts 1:3, 19:8, 20:25, and 28:23-31. These Scriptures are all found in the Book of Acts. Read them sincerely from your heart and the Lord Himself will help you understand.
You will find this from the very beginning of Genesis right through to the Book of Revelations. I have to admit that it is not easy to write about or explain the Kingdom of God, and the kingdoms of this world. There are many that are believers in the gospel of the grace of God, who are confused about these two kingdoms. There are many precious believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, who believe that there is a difference between the Kingdom of God and the Gospel. The truth is that the Gospel and the Kingdom of God are inseparable, but it is important to distinguish or identify each from the other.
To begin with, our Lord Himself taught and proclaimed the Kingdom of God. From the beginning of His ministry to the very end, He taught about the Kingdom of God. Take for example, our Lord Jesus’ words to Nicodemus who was a member of the Council of Jews, in John 3:3, where Jesus tells Nicodemus this: "I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again." Then answering Nicodemus’ question and observation, Jesus continues to say: " I tell you the truth, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."
In our previous short word, we mentioned this doctrine, but we can read more about that in various Scriptures that help us to understand by faith. In 1 Peter 1:3-5 we read the following, " Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade –kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." Here we can clearly see that the new birth is related to the death and resurrection of the Lord, and that it is the work of God the Father by means of His Spirit. Further on in 1 Peter 1: 23-25 we read this: " For you have been born again, not by perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For all men are like grass and their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever. And this is the word that was preached to you."
Friends, in the above verses we can see so clearly that the new birth takes place when we hear the WORD of GOD, in the gospel. The Bible says "consequently faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
A simple study of this portion of Scripture indicates so clearly that the message and the Word mean the gospel. The word gospel simply means the good news. We can then conclude that only sinners who repent of their sins when they hear the gospel and obey God by putting their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus, Who died and was raised from the dead for us, will enter the Kingdom of God. The Bible is crystal clear about this truth! All declarations in the Scripture about this truth about the Kingdom of God are sure and irrevocable, because the Word of God is alive and endures forever.
Here are a few Scripture portions for you to read and ponder over that speak about the Kingdom of God: Acts 1:3, 19:8, 20:25, and 28:23-31. These Scriptures are all found in the Book of Acts. Read them sincerely from your heart and the Lord Himself will help you understand.
This far today in this morning’s Blog! Have you been blessed, encouraged and challenged? Write to us and share that with us at: bbhenriquez@setarnet.aw
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