(The following blog posting is in response to the MANY questions that have come my way concerning a previous posting on our citizenship in God’s kingdom. Let me just say thank you for being patient in waiting for me to put this posting together. Also, please keep in mind, after reading this posting, if there continue to be questions, please feel free to ask. I will either answer them individually or with another blog posting based on your responses. Thank you again for taking the time to read SIH blog and giving me the privilege of ministering to you all. May the Lord bless you greatly.)
In a previous blog posting (the Kingdom Of God) we looked at the Kingdom of God and the implications of that kingdom for the Christian and living his life for Christ. Based on the readers comments and questions to me, I would like to look at more details concerning this kingdom.
THE SCRIPTURES:
Deu 7:6-8 (KJV)
(6) For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. (7) The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: (8) But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Rom 2:28-29 (KJV)
28) For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29) But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.
Gal 3:6-9 (KJV)
6) Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7) Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, [saying], In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9) So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Gal 3:26-29 (KJV)
26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29) And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Gal 6:15-16 (KJV)
15) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16) And as many as walk according to this rule, peace [be] on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Eph 1:4-12
(4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (8) Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; (9) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (10) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
1Pet 2:9-10 (KJV)
9) But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:10) Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
THE STUDY:
1Pet 2:9-10 (KJV)
9) But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10) Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Based on the above verses, we find clearly that the Lord tells us that once we are saved by His grace, He makes us members in a “holy nation”. The purpose of this nation’s existence is to show forth His praises like a bright light shining in the midst of a sin darkened world.
This principle brings us back to a previous posting on God’s kingdom and our membership in His kingdom as the saints of God.
Let us begin to look at “the Kingdom of God” in greater detail, I would like to make a few general observations concerning this kingdom. Please keep in mind, from our previous study, that at salvation, we are automatically made members of the Kingdom of God.
Keeping that in mind, let’s notice several characteristics of God’s kingdom from Eph 1:4-12 also please notice these characteristics are shared with the physical nation of Israel of OT times (Deut 7:6-8)…
- Principle #1 – God’s Kingdom is made up of people separated unto the Lord…
- Eph 1:5 - Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
- Deu 7:6 - For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: …to be a special people unto himself,
- Principle #2 – God’s Kingdom is selected by the Lord according to His good pleasure…
- Eph 1:5-6 – according to the good pleasure of his will, …
- Deu 7:6-7 – the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, … But because the LORD loved you
- Principle #3 – God’s Kingdom is separated from the world…
- Eph 1:4 – that we should be holy and without blame before him
- Deu 7:6 – an holy people unto the LORD thy God:…to be a special people unto himself,
- Principle #4 – God’s Kingdom has a special love bestowed upon it from the Lord…
- Eph 1:4 - … that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
- Deu 7:8 - But because the LORD loved you,
- Principle #5 – God has made a covenant with His Kingdom…
- Eph 1:11 – In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
- Deu 7:8 - But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers,
But the relationship between the Nation of Israel in the OT and God’s kingdom in the NT does not end with shared characteristics and spiritual symbolism it goes much farther….
Rom 2:28-29 - For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.
In the above verses we find an incredible statement. Paul tells us that the true Jew is not one of physical, outward circumcision of the flesh. The true Jew, in the eyes of our Lord, is one who has experienced the inward circumcision of the heart and spirit. He (the Christian) is one who now praises and honors the Lord for graciously granting salvation to him.
We may ask what does “inward” circumcision of the heart and spirit describe? Remember physical circumcision involves the cutting off and removal of flesh followed by casting it aside.(Ex 4:24-26). Spiritual circumcision of the heart and spirit involve removing the old lifestyle and domination of sin of the lost man. It is a part of creating a “new creature in Christ” (Gal 6:15) and creating a “new man … created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph 2:22-24).
Galatians reaffirms this truth….
Gal 6:15-16 -For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace [be] on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Here, we find the importance of knowing that we have benn made “a new creature in Christ”. This is a necessary work of the Lord in our hearts which brings us into citizenship into His kingdom. At the end of these verses, Paul shares with us the name of this kingdom of God that is made up of all believers…. “The Israel of God”.
Why does Paul give the Kingdom of God the title “The Israel of God”? The following verses will help us to understand….
Gal 3:6-9 - Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, [saying], In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Here, Paul is telling us that the faith that was exercised by Abraham, is the same type of faith that we exercise today. Abraham placed his faith in the Messiah THAT WAS TO COME, we simply, look back into history and place our faith in the Messiah that HAS ALREADY COME.
Paul goes onto explain that God’s promise to Abraham concerning his descendants was fulfilled in those of faith, aka. “The Israel of God”
Gal 3:26-29 - For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Once again, we find the same basic principle being described in the above verses. We are adopted into God’s family by faith. The final verse clearly tells us that if we have exercised faith in Christ, not only have we become members of God’s family, but we have also become a part of Abraham’s family (one of his descendants). In other words, we have become a part of “The Israel of God”. This citizenship into God’s kingdom is a fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant making us heirs according to the promise of God.
What are some of the things we possess as heirs according to the promise and members of “the Israel of God”? A quick summary includes:
1. The promise of an eternal King – 2 Sam 7:13-16
a. The fulfillment – Christ - Isa 9:6-7, Luke 1:30-33
2. The promise of an eternal kingdom without sin in sincere love and service to The King – Jer 31:31-34; Ezek 36:22-29a
a. The fulfillment - The future eternal rule of Christ – Rev 20:-22:
3. The promise of a eternal land separated to the Kings’ perfect rule – Gen 13:14-15, Gen 17:8, Isa 65:17-18
a. The fulfillment – the New Jerusalem and New Heavens and Earth – Rev 21:-22:
To summarize, our heirship of the kingdom will be fully realized throughout eternity with the Lord. It is then that we will be a completed nation, set apart for His glory, inhabiting an eternal land, with Our Lord reigning eternally as King.
In our final posting on this subject we will be looking at two sections of Scripture that complement one another by speaking about the formation of the “Israel of God”…
Zech 11:4-17 and Romans 11:7-32.
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