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December 4 - The Kingdom of Heaven - Protestant Caucus/Devotional
Gracetoyou.org ^ | 2008 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

Posted on 12/04/2022 1:16:23 PM PST by 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.


TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: gty
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To: Elsie; aMorePerfectUnion; imardmd1; SouthernClaire; metmom; Mark17; caww; boatbums; ducttape45; ...
So you are planning on being judged at the Great White Throne of Judgment?... Did Christ not die for you so that you may have the Grace of God IN CHRIST, blessed by GOD that your sins have been (that is past tense) washed away and your newborn spirit sealed by God's Holy Spirit?

Give it up, Sinner, and let God do the saving now, so you are not made to stand for judgment at the Great White Throne of Judgment. Believe in God's Grace and be saved now, and have His seal upon your spirit.

Thye mystery of godliness is that the born again HAVE The Holy Spirit abiding IN their newborn spirit. Thus His Presence is The Seal of righteousness you can never accomplish on your own.

141 posted on 12/12/2022 5:31:06 AM PST by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: Elsie

IF you are seriously asking, I will be honest to post what God has given to me to understand on the dead IN CHRIST and The Rapture/Great Departure. Based upon your posts I am not convinced you are asking but rather baiting so you can post more argumentation for cultish beliefs. BUT if you actually want an honest response, I will try my best to explain it to you.


142 posted on 12/12/2022 5:37:11 AM PST by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: MHGinTN
So you are planning on being judged at the Great White Throne of Judgment?.

And you are not?


 
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."


Then how will we know if your name is found in The Book of Life?

143 posted on 12/12/2022 5:41:54 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: MHGinTN

Why do my ‘intentions’ matter?

Don’t you want any lurkers to be unconfused at what the Scriptures teach?


144 posted on 12/12/2022 5:45:00 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

Because you reject the Rapture as God giving each believer a new body and behavior mechanism, you cannot spiritually ‘see’ that we who are IN CHRIST are not among the dead in the quote you so ardently want to rule ALL.


145 posted on 12/12/2022 5:45:32 AM PST by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: Elsie

Acts 15:1

Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”


146 posted on 12/12/2022 5:47:08 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

Elsie, your current posting efforts are aimed at sowing confusion, as you reject anything that disagrees with your soul sleep misconception and rejection of the Great Departure of the Body of Believers in whose spirit is the SEAL of God’s Holy Spirit, thus imputing Christ’s Righteousness to each of the born again.


147 posted on 12/12/2022 5:47:54 AM PST by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: Elsie

Elsie, I offered to walk you through any passage you are concerned with by pm.


148 posted on 12/12/2022 5:49:33 AM PST by aMorePerfectUnion (Fraud vitiates everything. )
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To: MHGinTN

One man’s misconception is another man’s clarity.


149 posted on 12/12/2022 11:42:30 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: aMorePerfectUnion
A tremendous amount.

Elsie, I offered to walk you through any passage you are concerned with by pm.

Really?

I am not concerned about any of them.

I try to merely post Scripture without my or anyone elses 'explanation' of them.


You guys are overly concerned that I do not accept the 'Authorized Version' of the meaning of things.

But to go as far as to say that I am probably not 'saved'?

150 posted on 12/12/2022 11:47:12 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie
You guys are overly concerned that I do not accept the 'Authorized Version' of the meaning of things.

You posted to me in response to something I posted to another FReeper, asking a question about other passages.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/religion/4113877/posts?page=66#66

I tried to answer you out of kindness and offered to explain any of those passages you referred to.

Then you asked me about what you are missing by not having access to the original languages.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/religion/4113877/posts?page=133#133

And I again reminded you I offered to interact about any passage with you by pm.

If you live never knowing you are saved and secure, you will not advance into the positional truths. That said, there is a time for everything, "first the seed then the blade, then the leaf."

But to go as far as to say that I am probably not 'saved'?

You are not required to believe in eternal security to be saved. And if you are saved, you are secure, whether you accept it or not. I simply offered to discuss something in response to your questions.

Since you do not wish to do that, it's fine.

Blessings and Merry Christmas!

151 posted on 12/12/2022 12:54:35 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion (Fraud vitiates everything. )
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To: aMorePerfectUnion
If you live never knowing you are saved and secure, you will not advance into the positional truths.

From what I read in the Bible, I am 'saved and secure', as long as I continue to believe.


John 3:18

152 posted on 12/12/2022 1:42:21 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: MHGinTN

Ok, now that I understand. Great post!


153 posted on 12/12/2022 2:42:15 PM PST by ducttape45 (Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.")
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To: Elsie

So you are in charge of the SEAL? Oh my!


154 posted on 12/12/2022 2:46:34 PM PST by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: Elsie

—> From what I read in the Bible, I am ‘saved and secure’, as long as I continue to believe.

I’m happy for you to believe and mature at your own pace and God’s time.

Our conversation reminds me of a couple who went to a wedding reception!

True story.

Very crowded!
They saw people crowded around a table.
Worked their way to the front and saw a wonderful spread of appetizers!
More kinds than they had ever seen, and all their favorites
They started filling their plates and stuffing their faces until they couldn’t eat any more.
After their momentum slowed, they wondered from the table to meet other guests.
As they circled the room, they noticed people streaming through a door to another room…
When they entered , they saw several tables of Mexican food. Being from TX, they loved Mexican food!
Again, they began to fill their plates, but this time with Mexican food.
They were full, but there’s always room for Mexican food!
They ate until they thought they could hold no more..
They couldn’t hold anymore, and they backed away from the table area and began to walk away, when they saw a door with people streaming through it.
They entered the next room, and right in front of them was a seafood buffet
They looked at each other, and couldn’t believe they filled up on appetizers and Mexican food, because they love seafood!
So again, I got in line and got plates, but could only get a tiny bit of seafood because they were so stuffed.
After gingerly eating, there were seafood, they sat their plates down and started to walk away, when they saw another door.
They looked at each other, and both started toward that door at wants to see what was on the other side.
When they got through the door in front of them was a steak buffet!
They looked at each other in total disbelief, and simultaneously said I can’t eat anything else.

Believers frequently find themselves in the identical situation, having come to faith, but not knowing the riches of that salvation.

May we all enter fully into the inheritance prepared for each believer.


155 posted on 12/12/2022 3:27:16 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion (Fraud vitiates everything. )
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To: MHGinTN

I am DEFINITELY in charge of what I believe.


156 posted on 12/12/2022 7:51:49 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: aMorePerfectUnion
Believers frequently find themselves in the identical situation, having come to faith, but not knowing the riches of that salvation.

Once again I ask what are these extra riches I am missing out on?

And what do I do to achieve them?

157 posted on 12/12/2022 7:54:06 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

The extras are entering into positional truths

You come to faith in God’s complete gift.


158 posted on 12/12/2022 8:02:19 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion (Fraud vitiates everything. )
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

Well then; I must be missing out, because I do not what a ‘positional truth’ is.


159 posted on 12/12/2022 8:08:33 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

Do you believe God Seals the spirit of the born again when HE justifies them by His Grace?


160 posted on 12/13/2022 6:30:07 AM PST by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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