The Gospel of the Kingdom & the Cross
I. The KingdomPeace: no war (Isaiah 2:4) no violence (Isaiah 60:17-18) and the animals will no longer be violent (Isaiah 11:6-9)
Resurrected Body: no longer able to die (1Corinthians 15:52-54) it will be glorious like Jesus' resurrected body (Philippians 3:21)
Earth: the people of God will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5) and it will be restored to paradise (Isaiah 41:18-19; Acts 3:21)
Fellowship: kingdom citizens will dwell with God (Rev 21:3-4) with Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:17) and with the saints (Matt 8:11)
Ecstasy: there will no longer be pain, weeping, or suffering (Revelation 21:4) but there will be rejoicing, singing, and happiness (Isaiah 12:1-6)
Reigning: the saints assist in administering government and ministering to the people (Revelation 2:26-28; 5:9-10)
Justice: the wicked will be punished (Psalm 37:9, 22, 28, 34, 38) and the righteous will be rewarded (Jeremiah 33:15; Matt 16:27)
Obedience: people will no longer sin, rather they will obey God continuously (Ezekiel 11:18-20; Revelation 22:3)
Knowledge: everyone will know God even as they are known by God (Jeremiah 31:33-34; 1 Corinthians 13:12)
Everlasting: the kingdom will have no end (Revelation 22:5)
II. The Problem
Are you a good person? Let's see how you measure up to the standard as outlined in the Bible.
Clear commands from the Old Testament: worship Yahweh alone, do not blaspheme, honor your parents, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie, and do not be greedy. Exodus 20:1-17
Jesus says that if you are angry with your brother you are just as guilty as a murderer (Matthew 5:21-22) and that if you look at a woman with lust for her then you are an adulterer (Matt 5:27-28).
Have you committed even one of these crimes? If so you are guilty! What is the punishment that is just?
“The soul that sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4 and 20)
The rules established in the beginning (Genesis 2:16-17)
They were repeated by Paul (Rom 6:23) and James (James 1:15)
God is the judge (Deuteronomy 32:39-41)
Sin is treason, a violation, a crime, rebellion, an act of ingratitude, arrogant, defiant, and opposition against the One to whom we owe our existence. All sins are an affront
to God (Psalm 51:3-4). Even if the sin is committed against another person, He is offended. If He will be just then He cannot let sin go unpunished. Because He is good, he must not allow those who are not good to get away with it. Forget about entering the kingdom, you are lucky to live another day.
III. The Cross
Is God Just? Yes. If so, He must punish crimes. He cannot let them slide. Otherwise, He is simply not just. What if I told you that someone has volunteered to take your place and that God agreed to this substitution? How would that make you feel?
Romans 5:6-11; 1 Peter 1:21-25; Ephesians 2:1-13
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