December 4 - The Kingdom of Heaven - Protestant Caucus/Devotional

Gracetoyou.org ^ | 2008 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

“‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 13:11).

In the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:10) we see two aspects of the kingdom of heaven. “On earth” refers to the present kingdom, mediated through God’s servants, and “in heaven” refers to God’s universal, direct reign.

Through the centuries the present kingdom has attracted both true and false citizens. Only God can infallibly distinguish true citizens (the redeemed) from false ones. Jesus shows that many branches that seem to belong to the vine actually do not. The spurious ones will be pruned away and thrown into the fire (John 15:2, 6). Such people only superficially identify with Christ but are never really citizens of the kingdom of heaven or part of the body of Christ. They appear to be true citizens only from an imperfect human perspective.

Paradoxically, Scripture uses terms such as Israel, God’s people, and disciples that can include both nominal and genuine believers. Paul does make it clear, however, that “he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart” (Rom. 2:29; cf. 9:6–7). Only at the very end of the age, when the eternal kingdom begins, will those who are true citizens of God’s kingdom be clear to everyone. (Even during the Millennium, when Christ directly rules on earth, there will be disloyal citizens; cf. Rev. 20:7–8.)

The only way now to ensure your kingdom citizenship is to repent, trust in Jesus Christ, and pursue the sanctification that new life in Him brings (cf. Mark 1:15).

Ask Yourself

What should churches do to discern and encourage those who are Christians in name only to put their faith in Christ wholeheartedly? Why do we tend to avoid dealing in touchy matters like these? And what is the result of our reticence?

From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[No name given]

Interesting article.

[Big Red Badger]

WWJD....
.
Watching an old movie;
‘In His Steps’.
Old and scratchy 1964 DVD.

[imardmd1]

John MacArthur has a good idea here. It is true that the "Kingdom of Heaven" is that which is embodied by the individual assemblies gathering in the name of Christ (local churches, many if not all impure in membership) is currently on earth, and is mentioned in Matthew/Levi's Gospel. The Kingdom of God exits currently in God's Heaven, and is mentioned in the Epistle to the dispersed Jews as "the Church of the First-born" (Heb. 13:23). Regenerated members of that assembly are a part of and within local churches. A diagram of the formation and progressive events experiencing by those two Kingdoms illustrated as follows:

Greater details of that chart are found in the link to the Happy Heralds, Inc. site (click here)

That site also has a very detailed differentiation of the two Kingdoms by comparing the principles that they operate on:

Comparison of The Kingdom of Heaven and The Kingdom of The God (click here)

We argue and argue and argue in good debates or fiery clashes, that mostly are entirely unnecessary if one has studied the doctrines embodied in these charts compiled by a very good degreed Bible scholar, pastor, teacher, and translator.

[imardmd1]

This is a ping. See my comment Post #5 here.

[SouthernClaire]

Very interesting, Imardmd1. Was taking just a glance at the first article but it captured my interest. Looks like much to be considered/gained from it. Thank you for the ping.

[Elsie]

...pursue the sanctification ...

Aye - there's the rub!

[Elsie]

I have a problem with some that seem to bypass the GWJ.

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Exodus 32:32-33
 But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”  But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.

 

Daniel 12:1
 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.

 

 

 

Philippians 4:3
 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

 

Revelation 3:5
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

 

Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

 

 

 

Revelation 17:8
 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

 

 

 

Revelation 20:11-15
"Then I saw a great White Throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and THE BOOKS WERE OPENED. Another book was opened WHICH IS THE BOOK OF LIFE. The dead were judged according to their works as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to their works.  Then death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written IN THE BOOK OF LIFE, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

 

Revelation 21:27

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

[SouthernClaire]

Think about this: Do you think Christ Jesus is going to Judge His Body?

The GWTJ is not for you, Elsie.

[imardmd1]

So where do you find your problem, Please describe the situation and give me an istance of how the problem occurs.

For me, I will never have to be judged at the GWT. My sins were already judged and paid for at/on the Cross, never to be mentiomed again. My Father in Heaven since May 24, 1971 has forgiven them all, and ever since has imputed to me the righteousness of His Son.

How about you, Els?

[imardmd1]

What I'm saying is that if one is not saved forever, one is not saved at all.

When Jesus saves, and Jesus alone, the salvation is never partial, it is perfectly done and finished.

[imardmd1]

From the JMac article:
>> The only way now to ensure your kingdom citizenship is to repent, trust in Jesus Christ, and pursue the sanctification that new life in Him brings (cf. Mark 1:15). <<

Elsie: Aye - there's the rub!

Asking for greater illumination on what you mean by your remark, why do you say that pursuing sanctification is a "rub"?

Did you agree with the order in which MacArthur put these events (repentance --> salvation --> progressive sanctification) ?

At the moment that

Jesus' Father, the Judge who pardons, has determined that an individual is fully persuaded that he/she can wholly depend on Jesus' saving power and thus through the person's mind is fully changed (metanoaia = repentance / belief is accomplished) the person is pardoned (judicially declared "not guilty" = justified); has received God's gracious, undeserved gift of eternal life offered on the basis of that person's convincement (saved from sin's power and spiritual death); and set apart by adoption as a child of the Heavenly Father for employment of service to His Son (contemporaneous initial sanctification at the moment of salvation and justification);

then the journey of progressive sanctification, its pursuit, begins.

The first step of that journey is the new birth into spiritual infancy (1 Pet 2:1-3), followed by feeding on the milk of the Word, proceeding from it into the ever-increasing maturity (Heb. 5:11-14) of the strong meat of doctrine, into full maturity of overcoming the advances and seduction of the wicked one, the Devil (1 Jn. 2:12-14).

You cannot pursue sanctification as the light burden (Mt. 11:29-30) until you have first been saved, are a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17-19), with the duty of communicating the full gospel, that Jesus^{(Himself alone)} Saves^{fully and completely}, the seen evidence in the conduct of the herald commissioned to carry that message to a depraved, lost world, that includes folks who think they can earn God's pardon through doing good works to earn it.

There are those also who think that they by faith can be saved, but that by not pursuing sanctification can still "lose" it. Those who still think that are not yet fully persuaded (Rom. 4:20-21) that it is Jesus ALONE in His PERFECT FAITHFULNESS ALONE has accomplished ALL that has to be done for the TOTALLY UNEARNED, UNMERITED GRACIOUS gift of salvation to be offered by His Father to the willing recipient on the basis of that depraved human's changed mind ALONE (which implicitly is a change of belief, 2 Cor. 7:10), nothing else, with Jesus assuming complete ownership of that trusting personality, and determined to maintain that proprietary stance forever (Jn. 10:9,14,18,28-30).

It is not clear to me that anyone whose belief that he/she is saved but can lose it, is saved at all. I believe that is the person who is in the most danger of assuring that his/here final residence will be in Hell and the Lake of Fire, and leading others into that same final prideful trap.

One can effectively pursue sanctification (holiness) only after certifying between him/herself and God that he/she is totally the property of the Anointed King (Messiah = Christ) Incarnate God (Jesus, the human alive now bodily in Heaven) Master of willing regenerated servant-Friends (Lord).

Do you have any desire to share what your position is respecting this issue, Elsie (Psalm 26:2; 2 Cor. 11:28-29; 2 Cor. 13:5)? (At the point of passing on, that is the only assurance that will comfort one, eh?)

[Let each one reading this have the humbleness of mind of The Christ (Php. 1:9-11, 2:3-8).]

[Elsie]

First a question for you guys: Can GOD blot your name out of the Book of Life?

And another one: Are you sure that you are going to ‘endure to the end’?

[SouthernClaire]

The GWTJ is not for the Body of Christ.

You are, according to Scripture, a “new creature” in the Body of Christ Jesus. What you’re reading applies to those outside the Body.

I hope that helps, Elsie. Let me know.

[Elsie]

Can Jesus force you to 'believe' if you decide to no longer do so?

---

Ezek 15:8
and dedicate the land to desolation because of their unfaithful unbelief," declares the Lord GOD.

Matt 13:58
And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Matt 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Mrk 6:6
And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Mrk 9:24
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Mrk 16:14
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

John 20:27
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe."

Act 19:9
But some grew obstinate in unbelief and spoke evil of the new faith before all the congregation. So Paul left them, and, taking with him those who were disciples, held discussions daily in Tyrannus's lecture-hall.

Rom 3:3
For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Rom 4:20
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Rom 11:20
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Rom 11:21
for if God did not spare the natural branches [because of unbelief], He will not spare you either.

Rom 11:23
And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

Rom 11:30
For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Rom 11:32
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Hebrews 3:12
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Hebrews 3:19
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:6
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Hebrews 4:11
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

[Elsie]

Clossians 1:22-23

22 But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—
23 if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

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Most folks lean real heavy on verse 22 and apparently miss the next one.

[SouthernClaire]

“If” is tricky in a lot of places, Elsie. It also means, “since.”

eige
Thayer Definition:
1) if, indeed, inasmuch, as, since
Part of Speech: conjunction
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G1487 and G1065

I hope that helps ya.

[Elsie]

It is not clear to me that anyone whose belief that he/she is saved but can lose it, is saved at all. I believe that is the person who is in the most danger of assuring that his/here final residence will be in Hell and the Lake of Fire, and leading others into that same final prideful trap.

I guess it depends which pair of glasses the Scriptures are read thru.

Your first sentence is how folks HAVE to 'believe' if they do NOT believe salvation can be 'lost'.

They were never saved to begin with seems mighty judgemental when there are so many instances in Scripture of folks starting off RIGHT and then going astray into UNBELIEF.

[Elsie]

Psalm 26:2 niv
Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;

2 Corinthians 11:28-29 niv
28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

2 Corinthians 13:5 niv
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

 

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Thanks for the third verse.