- Mark 14:43-50
- Whats going on
- This is the betrayal story- the one where Judas has given up Jesus. Over the past few months, we’ve talked a bit about Jesus- Pretty simple- Judas was the one who betrayed Jesus. It was the plan. It is what had to happen. In this story we see the betrayer betraying. Doing what he was supposed to do. Jesus gets kissed, they take him away and Jesus tells them that they didn’t have to be so armed up to get him
- What are we going to focus on today?
- V47 And one of those who stood by drew his sword
- It was Peter. I love peters passion here, but Peters passion was misguided- He thought that force was the means by which they were going to change the world
- It was through the use of force that Peter thought they were going to usher in Christ’s kingdom- so when it looked like it was go time- he was at the ready-
- Loved the verse- Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
- The problem is that Jesus said
- John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
- Luke 17:20-21 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
- Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
There are many divergent “kingdom” theologies that exist
There are three aberrant ‘theologies’ I want to cover with you quickly that I don’t want you to be led astray by
- Now- with most wonky theology- there’s always a bit of truth to it- but the full exercise of it at the expense of the bible will lead you astray.
- False theologies always have false teachers- 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- 2 peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction
- Here’s some indications of false theologies
- Man centered- Their aim is to help man, not help God
- Biblically not easily arrived to- There are too many layers to really grasp it
- New Revelation- Something that someone ‘figured out’
- Outcome– create self righteousness not self denial
- Glorify the process- don’t glorify God
- Worship of the ideology– if you ‘do this’ you ‘get this’ not worship of God
- Ignorance of ‘sin’- Salvation isn’t forgiveness of Sin, it’s the eradication of it
- Why are we talking about these? They are all around you- you see them. You hear about them- they all have a bit of truth to them- but they all aim at a different savior- not the Jesus of the Bible.
- Whats hard is that some of it is good- but if its not rooted in Biblical Christianity- it can become dangerous
- If you don’t educate- you will be lead astray- and you will be at odds with people
- Christian Reconstructionism- or Theonomy
- take dominion over this world socially and culturally before the bodily return of Jesus Christ.
- known as the “dominion mandate.” Genesis 1:26-28,Genesis 9:1-5 and Matthew 28:18-20
- the world should be brought under (reconstructed) the lordship of Jesus Christ in all areas: social, moral, political, judicial, military, family, art, education, music, etc.
- restoration of Old Testament civil and moral laws in order to reconstruct America
- Politics is one important—but only one—mechanism of reconstructing society.
- Christians have a duty to engage in and reform the political process. “There needs to be a law”
- God has entered into a covenant with America and will shower blessings on it only so long as some unknown remnant of Americans honors the covenant by obedience to the Law.
- The Good- We need to be involved in Politics- but “this kingdom is not of this world” we should vote our Bibles- but laws don’t change hearts. A constitution wont usher in Jesus return
- The Bad- America is not the new Israel. Jesus never intended to build a Christian nation, distancing yourself from everyone, (homeschooling is big in this movement) creates less opportunity for sharing the Gospel. Very “Amerocentric” are the Chinese waiting for us?
- Social Justice Theology
- Started in the 60s- Largely influenced in latin America and Catholicism
- The main push is that salvation is found in liberating the oppressed and righting the ‘wrongs’ of society. This is the aim and goal of Christians- to perform and facilitate ‘social justice’
- Goods and services must be equally distributed, stop economic exploitation
- Women, elderly, children are oppressed by patriarchal societies and must be stopped
- Races and ethnic groups are repressed by dominant ethnic groups around the globe not just US
- America isn’t the only place where exploitation of people happens-
- Exploitation of the environment. Reduction of “industrial and technocratic production”
- Injustice of militarism and violent uses of power through surveillance, force, police etc
- The Good– We should care about people and do what we can to help them as it presents itself within a Christian context. We should help. But that’s not our main focus-
- The Bad- righting the wrongs of society becomes the focus and you send well fed people to Hell
- New Apostolic Reformation
- the 21st Century will be ruled by Apostles and Prophets, not to be questioned- speak for God
- Claim direct revelation from God and many allege that Jesus and angels visit them in person
- Denigration of the Bible and Sola Scriptura. The Bible isn’t enough
- Experience oriented theology and based in emotionalism. Steeped in mysticism.
- “taking dominion” through spiritual warfare over sickness and demons
- Emphasize the Glory and presence of God main focus of signs and wonders- believers purpose is to achieve our “destiny” or “dream” so we can change the world-
- Push for revival. Believe that there will be a miraculous final push, not a great falling away
- Worship services are for the people- not for God- interested in “moves” and “experience”
- Goal is to bring heaven to earth- so people can experience the presence of God- Usher in Jesus
- Elevation of the prophetic word at the expense of scripture leading to extra biblical actions
- The Good- The Holy Spirit still moves today and does the miraculous. Revival is good. Spiritual growth is good.
- The Bad- Weirdness. Special revelations. Extra biblical actions. Authoritarian control. Trying to make a home on earth when the earth will be destroyed
So what is the Real kingdom of God and how do we live it out?
- The kingdom of God is quite simple– It’s the preaching of the Good news of Christs reign, rule and redemption of the world.
- Christ reign over all the earth– His RULE over every life that submits and Redemption over every life that repents
- Through the preaching of the word of God, holy living and witnessing, we lead others to Christ and the world “changes” little by little. Its not pretty- but its what Christ demanded
- Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
- We are sojourners on this planet- awaiting for the arrival of Christ- and we want to gather as many souls as we can to go to heaven with us until his return.
- Every time we lead another person to the Lord we are growing the kingdom!
- Its very simple- Go and look what the people in the Bible did and you can see what we should be doing
- Acts 28:31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.
- In the book of Acts they preached repentance and forgiveness of sins. Simply- God will forgive you if you turn to him. Then you will be in God’s kingdom. Turn to him and live for him
- Five- Preaching. Worshipping. Fellowshipping. Giving. Serving. WITHIN THE CHURCH.
- People want the Kingdom of God to be a tangible rulership
- Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
- Simply- the kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over all the universe
- https://www.gotquestions.org/kingdom-of-God.html
- More narrowly, the kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority.
- Those who defy God’s authority and refuse to submit to Him are not part of the kingdom of God; in contrast, those who acknowledge the lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule in their hearts are part of the kingdom of God.
- In this sense, the kingdom of God is spiritual—Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36), and He preached that repentance is necessary to be a part of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17).
- That the kingdom of God can be equated with the sphere of salvation is evident in
- John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
- where Jesus says the kingdom of God must be entered into by being born again.
- Simply put- Those who think the kingdom of God is a political, physical or theocratic nation are sorely mistaken and biblically misguided
- When Jesus told Peter to put his sword away it was because that which Jesus came to accomplish was spiritual in nature
- Remember- one of the main reasons he was crucified was the jews demanded messiah to be a political king- why would they crucify him for that, just for us to try and usher in his kingdom politically?
- So what do we do?
- 1. Preach the Gospel
- Keep the preaching of Jesus Christ and him crucified the most important kingdom distinctive
- Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
- Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
- Preach to people in your life- and bring them here- they will hear it here
- 2. Live Correctly
- Act, live, and influence from a position of Christian values in our relationships, careers and families
- 1 Peter 2:12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
- 3. Support the Church
- Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God[a] which He purchased with His own blood.
- There is nothing more important than Christs church. We are the Kingdom he is returning for!
- Take ownership- if you give and serve- you can know you’re growing the kingdom- “I did that’
- Stay true to the Bible and await Christs return.
- 4. Watch and pray
- 1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
