The Gospel of the Kingdom of God

2. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God In this series we shall study • Plans, Prophecies, and Expectations • The Kingdom Is At Hand! • The Kingdom’s Nature • The Kingdom Comes • The Kingdom’s Citizens • The Kingdom’s Laws • The Kingdom’s Rewards • The Kingdom’s Defenders • The Kingdom’s Future • The Kingdom’s Alternative

3. The Gospel of the KingdomThe Kingdom’s Laws • Outline • The government of the kingdom • The need for laws • Something better than Moses’ law • Summarizing the laws of the kingdom • Where do the Gospels belong?

4. The Gospel of the KingdomThe Kingdom’s Laws • The government of the kingdom • A monarchy (royal ruler): Jesus is the King • John 18:36-37; Rev. 17:14; Rev. 19:16 • An autocracy (single ruler): Jesus has total authority • Matt. 28:18; Col. 2:10 • A theocracy: God’s law is the supreme law • Rom. 8:7 - subject your mind to the law of God • Gal. 6:2 - fulfill the law of Christ by bearing one another’s burdens • Jms. 1:25 - we must abide by the perfect law of liberty • Jms. 2:8-12 - we must fulfill the royal law, we will be judged by it • Not a democracy or republic govt

5. The Gospel of the KingdomThe Kingdom’s Laws • The need for laws • To establish accountability • Rom. 3:19 “so that all the world may become accountable to God” • Rom. 14:11-13 “each…will give an account of himself to God” • 1 Pet. 4:5 “they will give account to Him” • 2 Cor. 5:10 “we must all appear before the judgment seat…” • To define sin • Rom. 3:20; 7:7 - Law imparts knowledge of sin • 1 John 3:4 “sin is lawlessness” • When all are accountable and sin is clearly defined, there is no excuse for sin, making God’s final judgment just. • We find comfort in obeying God’s laws…they teach us how to live pleasing to Him (2 Cor. 5:9; Eph. 5:10; 1 John 3:22)

6. The Gospel of the KingdomThe Kingdom’s Laws • Something better than Moses’ law • The letters to the Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews emphasize numerous ways the Law of Moses was insufficient • It could not deliver the promise made to Abraham (Rom. 4:13) • Moses’ law could not justify a sinner or impart life (Gal. 3:11; 21) • Moses’ law made nothing perfect (Heb. 7:18-19; 10:1,4) • So the Law of Moses was taken away, priesthood was changed • Eph. 2:14-16 Christ abolished the Mosaic law • Heb. 7:11-12 priesthood and law changed • Heb. 8:13 Old covenant was obsolete, replaced by new covenant • Acts 15:1-29 Apostles & elders in Jerusalem did not bind Law of Moses or circumcision on Gentile believers

7. The Gospel of the KingdomThe Kingdom’s Laws • Summarizing the laws of the kingdom (Eph. 2:8-10) • Salvation is the gift of grace (8) • Acts 15:11 - saved by the grace of Jesus • Rom. 3:24 - justified as a gift by His grace • Rom. 6:23 - free gift of God is eternal life • Salvation is obtained through faith (9) • Rom. 3:30 - circumcised & uncircumcised both require faith • Gal. 2:16; 3:8,22,24 - “justified by faith” see also Heb. 11:6 • Salvation is kept by walking in good works (10) • 1 Tim. 4:16 & Rom. 2:7 - they who persevere in doing good will receive eternal life, salvation • Jms. 1:22; 2:17-26 - “doers of the word” & “faith without works is dead” • Tit. 2:11-12 - Grace instructs us to deny ungodliness… • Rom 13:8-10 - the law is summed up in this: love your neighbor

8. The Gospel of the KingdomThe Kingdom’s Laws • Where do the Gospels belong? • Some today, even in churches of Christ, teach that Jesus’ words in the Gospels are not part of the new covenant since Jesus lived under the Law of Moses. They teach that Jesus’ instructions were nothing more than commentary on the Law of Moses, applied only to Jews, and are not binding on the rest of the world. This is done primarily to avoid Jesus’ teaching on divorce/remarriage. But notice what the Scriptures say: • Jesus’s parables taught how to enter and live in the kingdom • What Jesus taught on divorce superseded what the Law of Moses said on it (Matt. 5:31-32; 19:3-9) • Jesus taught about the church (Matt. 16:18; 18:15-17) • Jesus taught baptism before His death (John 3:3,5,26)

9. The Gospel of the KingdomThe Kingdom’s Laws • Where do the Gospels belong? (continued) • “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matt. 28:20) • “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48) • The Holy Spirit taught the Apostles what Jesus taught (John 14:26; 16:13-15) • The Apostles’ teachings were from Jesus (1 Cor. 11:23; Gal. 1:11-12; 1 Thess. 4:2; 2 Pet. 1:16; 3:2) • The message was “first spoken through the Lord” (Heb. 2:3-4) • We must obey Jesus’ commandments (1 John 2:3-6; 2 John 6; John 14:15,21) • Jesus is King, His Word is law…the four Gospels are part of the laws of the Kingdom today!

10. The Gospel of the KingdomThe Kingdom’s Laws • Summary of the Kingdom’s laws • The King makes the laws, not the citizens • Laws exist to establish accountability, define sin, ensure justice, and comfort us with guidance on how to please God • Jesus’ laws are better than the Law of Moses • The laws are summed up in how salvation is offered, obtained, and kept: grace, faith, and obedience to God by doing good works and loving our neighbors • The words of Jesus in the Gospels are part of the law today and apply to every person • Next week: The Kingdom’s Rewards

11. The Gospel of the Kingdom • God’s grace makes it possible for you to enter the kingdom today. • If you have faith, you can receive the gift. • Obey the Gospel: believe, repent, confess, be baptized, and God will give you the gift! (Mk. 16:16) • If you previously entered but have since departed, will you repent and return?

12. Hear , believe, and obey the Gospel today!