Archive for the ‘Small Catechism’ Category
Declared Worthy
Declared Worthy Luke 15:1–3, 11–32 Lent 4 31-Mar-19
Philippians 1:2(ESV) 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 15:1–3(ESV) 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable:
Jesus tells another parable, which is a heavenly story using earthly means. The purpose of this parable is that the Pharisees and Jewish scribes were grumbling that Jesus receives sinners and eats with them. Apparently that was scandalous at the time. It today’s terms you could say that the Pharisees and Jewish scribes were haters. They didn’t consider themselves as sinners and they did not associate with sinners.
Jesus has some teaching and correction that needs to be done.
The Parable teaches that all are sinners. It is obvious the younger son is a sinner, but also the older son, why, because he refused to join the younger son who is a sinner. Please note that the older son loses nothing from an earthly value, but because of his judgemental viewpoint and not realizing the he also is a sinner loses everything eternal.
That didn’t the older son along with the Pharisee and Jewish scribes realize:
Psalm 51:5(ESV) 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
What did the younger son realize as the Psalmist:
Psalm 119:71(ESV) 71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
The realization that we are not worthy to be in God’s presence.
Luke 15:17–19(ESV) 17 “But when he came to himself… I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
The younger son clearly states I am no longer worth to be called your son.
This is so true for all of us we are not worthy
Matthew 8:8–10(ESV) 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. … When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.
Jesus praises the centurion’s faith and trust in Jesus, by the centurion’s admission that the centurion was not worthy. It is an admission, or you could say a confession.
So what is confession? When we confess the creed together we are stating this is what we believe. Likewise at the beginning of the Divine Service we confess together that we are sinners.
Psalm 5:5(ESV) 5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
So something happens, so that we can stand before the living God, because by our nature, sinners cannot stand before God. What has changed? True contrition exists when a person not merely fears the temporal punishment of their sins, but also regards themself as eternally lost on account of their sins.
Luke 5:31–32(ESV) 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
This is the understanding the Jesus wanted the Pharisees, Jewish scribes and us to understand.
But do we understand it? How quick are we to judge others vs how quick are we to confess?
I am sure based upon my own experience: that it wasn’t easy for the younger son to swallow his pride and start heading back to his father.
But notice what happen when the younger son did? T
Luke 15:20(ESV) 20 …But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
Embraced Him, connection restored before confession
Luke 15:21(ESV) 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
I am no longer worthy, we are never worthy. Instead we are declared worthy by our Heavenly Father.
Who receives this sacrament worthily?
Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require all hearts to believe.
Please note that Luther and the parable don’t require a perfect life. Nor do they go through a long list of all the things that we have done, instead the focus is that we believe and trust in the promises of God. The younger son would not have return to his father is he didn’t think there would be food. Likewise we come to the Lord’s Supper trusting in the promises of Jesus Christ, for in Christ we are declared worthy.
Luke 15:24(ESV) 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Why celebrate, for Sinners declared worthy, are still sinners, but they are also saints.
1 Corinthians 2:5(ESV) 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
So we come before Christ Jesus, not that we are better than anyone one else, we come, because Jesus “receives sinners and eats with them.”
Philippians 4:7(ESV) 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Rescued by Christ
Rescued by Christ
Ezekiel 34:11-16,20-24
November 26, 2017
Philippians 1:2 (ESV) 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today the Church celebrates that Last Sunday of the Year. It is a day in which the Church is looking forward to coming of Christ. Many however are not looking forward to that final day so to speak, because of fear. Fear that all they know will come to an end. Fear that there will be pain and misery, maybe fear of the unknown. But we need not be given in to fear. Why, because we have been rescued by Christ Jesus.
The prophet Ezekiel while in exile, hears the news that Jerusalem is destroyed. But in the midst of that bad news, comes this Word of God, that is our Old Testament reading for today. Christ Jesus is the shepherd, who rescues us.
Ezekiel 34:11–12 (ESV) 11 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
Who is doing the work, who is doing the searching, Christ Jesus. Even after the sheep have been scatted, even is a day of clouds and thick darkness, Christ Jesus seeks out the sheep, referring to the people.
Ezekiel 34:16 (ESV) 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.
There is nothing to fear here, we are healed and restored, set in a place of protection and well fed.
But what about those being destroyed, the fat and the strong. Please note that entrance into the kingdom of God is not based upon the Body Mass Index your BMI score. But rather entrance into the Kingdom of God is based upon God’s grace given to you through faith. The Fat and the strong that Ezekiel references is in regards to those who reject God, who reject the grace that comes from your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
When the People of Israel wanted a King just like the other countries around them the Prophet Samuel felt rejected, but the Lord notes:
1 Samuel 8:7 (ESV) 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
Well the last day you can consider as Vindication day. Not that you are going to be vindicated from all the people that did you harm, but God is going to be vindicated. For everyone who denies the grace of God, for everyone who doesn’t fear God,
St. Paul notes this
Philippians 2:10–11 (ESV) 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
On the last day everyone will bow down and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
However while we are waiting for the last day, we can get discouraged.
We see the church in North America declining, like the sun setting in the evening. The dominance and respect that Christians had seems to be waning. We have just celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, will there be a 600th anniversary? My answer to that question is yes. One of the great themes of the reformation was, The Word of the Lord Endures Forever, based upon 1 Peter 1:25 (ESV) 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
It was preached to the people during the time of St. Peter about 2000 years again, it is being proclaimed today in your hearing, and it will be proclaimed until Christ Jesus comes again. As St. Peter would say in his second letter.
2 Peter 3:13 (ESV) 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
For this is what the church is all about. How Christ rescues us, protects us, guides us.
Here Luther’s Explanation to the 3rd Article of the Apostles Creed.
What does this mean?
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, en- lightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.
In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctify es the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.
In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.
On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.
Ezekiel also notes how Christ will rescue:
Ezekiel 34:23–24 (ESV) 23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.
By the way, the servant David, is a reference to line of King David
Luke 2:1–5 (ESV) 1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
More about that is the new Church year.
In His name, Amen.
Philippians 4:7 (ESV) 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Bless the Lord for the Good Land He gives you
Bless the Lord for the Good Land He gives you
Deuteronomy 8:1-10
November 22, 2017
Philippians 1:2 (ESV) 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Happy Thanksgiving! Your favorite Bible passage for your Thanksgiving celebration is the Old Testament reading Deuteronomy 8:10 which says, “And you shall eat and be full.” So at the end of Thanksgiving if you are sitting on a couch with a full tummy, then remember, you are just following what the Bible says, you shall eat and be full.
You may notice that the Bible verse doesn’t end with the word full, but continues with, “ and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.”
What does it mean to Bless the Lord? To Thank God. Do you remember the days when you were little and you had just received a gift, to which your parents would prompt you with the words, “what do you say?” To which the proper response would be saying “Thank you.”
From God to Moses to you, that is our response which is to say, “Thank You.”
Martin Luther explains this in the Fourth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer
Give us this day our daily bread.
What does this mean?
God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.
To receive everything with Thanksgiving. Why is receiving our daily bread and teaching our children to say thank you so import?
Think of it this way. Every time you say thank you to God, you are resisting the devil. Even by coming to the Divine Service tonight you are resisting the devil. The devil doesn’t want you to thank God for anything. The devil is trying to convince you to think that is no need ever to thank God, that you have gather and accomplished all things by your own doing, and that you deserve them because of who you are. But by coming here tonight you defy the devil and at the same time glorify God for what He had done.
But it is not easy to remember to give thanks to God. Consider for a moment the people of Israel when they left Egypt. What did God do for the people of Israel, notice our text. While they were wandering for 40 years God fed them and their clothing did not wear out. I am likely for my running shoes to last 1 year, let alone 40 years. But the people were not always thankful to God, instead they grumbled against God. But notice that God was testing them to know what was in their heart, if they were keeping the commandments or not.
So it wasn’t as easy as sitting on the couch with a full tummy, no you need to remember to Thank God.
The testing was there as our reading from Deuteronomy notes so that you would realize that you do not live by bread alone, it is not about the full tummy. Remember during the Reformation there was Three Solas, Sola Gratia (“only by grace alone”), Sola Fide (“only through faith alone”), and Sola Scriptura (“only through the Scriptures alone”). Please note there was no Sola Panem that would be for bread alone.
Jesus Himself would quote this passage in the great temptation from the devil, man does not live by bread alone but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord, again it is not about the full tummy.
Just as we prayed in the Collect, the prayer of the day, which reminded us the God provides for our needs in Body and Soul, not just the tummy, but also the soul. Again the needs of the Soul is not what the devil wants us to be concerned about. Again we hinder the devil and glorify God as we come the the Eucharist, that is Holy Communion which feeds and strengthens the soul. Eucharist which is the Greek meaning “thanksgiving”,
As St. Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 11:23–24 (ESV) 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” The term “Eucharist” (thanksgiving) was used by the early Christian by the last 1st century. So giving thanks to God is not just of the things for the body, but also of the soul.
It is good to remember this National Day of Thanksgiving, by gather together in the Divine Service. Weather our tummies are full, or even if there is still want, we gather and celebrate the Eucharist, where Christ remembers us, as feeds us His Body and Blood. As our Lord Jesus Christ gave thanks we also give thanks, regardless what the past, present or future would be, we thank God. Remember what Christ has done. We realize that soon after Christ celebrated the Eucharist, He was betrayed, and crucified, but still, He have thanks.
So we celebrate the Eucharist, Blessing the Lord, giving thanks to God in all circumstances.
In His Name, Amen.
Philippians 4:7 (ESV) 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Consecrated Guests
Consecrated Guests
Zephaniah 1:7-16
November 19, 2017
How do we see God? Do you see God as an abusive father, an absent father or a loving giving Father? Strange as that question may seem, the answer may be even stranger.
How one perceives God, is what you get? Sounds strange, but think of it this way. By Faith we trust in a loving God who cares, provides with many physical and spiritual blessings. But those without faith in this loving God would see God as a wrathful judge or an absent father. You get what you believe.
Notice what is happening in the Old Testament reading:
Zephaniah 1:12 (ESV) 12 I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill.’
Classic example of the absent father. But this is very much like the trend in today’s society of the “Nones” who are increasing in the United States. What are “Nones?” None means none, that is not atheist, not agnostic, not unbeliever, more like none of the above. They don’t want a spiritual label and they don’t want what you believe either.
Regardless if they are “Nones” or the people during the time of Zephaniah, we note how they abandon God’s word, are apathetic toward God, not seeing any good coming from God nor do they see any ill, nor are they fearing the wrath of God.
Jesus Himself notes in:
Matthew 5:13 (ESV) 13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
That is exactly what is in store for the people of Israel. But, God gives an opportunity to for the people, that is why Zephaniah was sent. So our Old Testament reading begins:
Zephaniah 1:7 (ESV) 7 Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.
Be silent before the Lord God. It is like God is saying: “Pay attention I gave you 2 ears and 1 mouth, be silent before the Lord, meaning to listen to His Word as it is read and proclaimed especially if the God is calling for a correction. Hear the Word. Don’t cry out against it, saying this is boring and not revenant to life, for this Word is your life.
For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice. The prophet is playing with figures of speech, as the prophets do so often. The time for slaying the sacrifice is here. The Lord will slay a sacrifice for Himself, namely, you wicked people, if you do not repent.
The Lord has consecrated His guests. If the people do not repent God will send the Chaldeans to destroy and ruin the people who are the sacrifice. People may think that they are the consecrated guests, for the people of Israel were set apart, made Holy by God. But, How one perceives God, is the God you get? No Faith in a loving forgiving God, then no loving forgiving God. By the way, the Chaldeans will be doing God’s will even through the people of Israel are rebelling against God.
For this is the problem as it is names later in
Zephaniah 3:2 (ESV) 2 She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord; she does not draw near to her God.
Like a rebellious child, God is noting their disobedience, but the people are not changing. Their apathy is great. They will not accept rebuke, nor accept any condemnation. Therefore the people do not trust in the Lord. The people do not have a faith to fear and trust in God. The people willfully ignoring of God’s Word which pulls the people away from God as the prophet notes: She does not draw near to her God. One draws near to God by acquiring knowledge of Him. This happens by faith, not by works, not by hands or feet but by zealous practice and daily exercise of the faith.
There is only one solution, to send the people into exile.
Zephaniah 3:12 (ESV) 12 But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord,
The exile was hard. But, the result was a people humble and lowly, who will have faith and hope in the name of the Lord, for that is the goal of Christ. For God desires all people to be saved, and doesn’t want anyone to perish. God wants people to fear and trust in God above all things.
But as the church recognizes the end of the church, next week, these last few Sundays have a strong focus that Christ is coming again. As we prayed in collect of the day we ask
Dispel from us the works of darkness and grant us to live in the light of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that our faith may never be found wanting;
The focus is on maintaining the faith that is given us, and in telling others that they have a God of that loves them, takes care of them, and forgives them, even if they don’t see it. What they believe the nature of God is what they will get. So we get an opportunity to teach, that Christ Jesus died in their place. That Christ Jesus has prepared a place for them in eternity. But it is hard to be a witness of the Christian faith when ones self is struggling in the faith.
So hear the words of Luther, Small Catechism, under the section of Confession, after a confession has been made.
Then the confessor shall say:
God be merciful to you and strengthen your faith. Amen.
Furthermore:
Do you believe that my forgiveness is God’s forgiveness? Yes, dear confessor.
Then let him say:
Let it be done for you as you believe. And I, by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive you your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Go in peace.
So believe and trust in the forgiveness of sin through Christ Jesus. Be bold and share that forgiveness, for you are Consecrated Guests, for God’s name is upon you through Holy Baptism, so believe and trust in what Christ has given you as God’s name was placed upon you.
In Christ’s Holy Name. Amen.
Another Chance
Another Chance
Psalm 80:7–19
October 8, 2017
Philippians 1:2 (ESV) 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the early Christian church, Christianity was still illegal. So if you neighbor through you were a Christian, the neighbor could just turn you in. Then came the judicial question, how do you know that the person is really a Christian. This question plagued some judges, until they realize that if you clear the room accept for the accused, and asked the accused if there were a Christian, you may get a positive answer of “Yes”, even though the sentence was death, you had Christians saying admitting they they were indeed a Christian. But what would happen when the Christian would deny their faith in a court room. The judge would often let them go, which then created a dilemma for the early Christian church. Would you receive back into the fellowship of the church someone who just renounced the Christian faith, especially after performing many Christian funerals for those who didn’t renounce the faith. Besides the Christian community was also trying to take care the of the families of those who had just lost a loved one. It wasn’t an easy answer, the but church, remember that even Peter who denied knowing Christ three times, was also restored by Christ after the resurrection. Another chance give by Christ, while we as humans often struggle with giving others another chance.
This look into early Christian church history gives us a glimpse into our Psalm text for today. From Psalm 80. The opening and closing verses of our reading has the first word as Restore, restore us. The first word says it all, restore, we need that restoration, that second chance.
But the Psalmist uses an illustration of a vine, which is symbolizes God’s people. v8 brought out of Egypt, given the promised land by moving out other nations. God’s people took root and filled the land, Where the vine even covered the mountains, showing how God’s people prospered, but then something happened. The walls which protected the vine were broken down, and the vine was ravaged. So there is a plea from the Psalmist for God to look down with references from your right hand and the son whom you made strong for yourself. Which is a beautiful reference to Jesus at the right hand of God, as we confess in the Creed. We know that Christ Jesus did come down from heaven and defeated devil by dieting on the cross for our restoration, but I am getting ahead of myself. The vine was burned with another call out to God, from the Psalmist The why behind this is coming, just like when God’s people would go into exile, because of their unbelief, vs 18 notes “Then we shall not turn back from you (if I may add again) give us life and we will call upon your name. You have to admire the Psalmist in his faith, knowing that God gives another chance.
While the Psalmist did not know the detail of God’s people into exile, nor the great salvation of Christ Jesus taking on flesh and blood and sacrificing Himself on the cross so that we have forgiveness, but the Psalmist did know of the gracious love and forgiveness that God brings.
While we may know the details of Christ atonement better than the Psalmist when the Psalmist wrote these words, however we may not always realize how much God loves sand restore us, like the Psalmist did. Why did I say that, well we like the early Christians, may also struggle with forgiving others, even after Christ has freely forgiven us.
Let’s take a look at the The Fifth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer: And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Luther writes: What does this mean?
We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them.
We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment.
It is the last line that is the one that trips us up. Luther writes:
So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.
Ouch. Now we can see why the early Christians struggle with welcoming back those who denied the Christian faith. We also struggle, when someone sins against us.
This is why the prayer of the day, the collect has:
Gracious God, You gave Your Son into the hands of sinful men who killed Him. Forgive us when we reject Your unfailing love, and grant us the fullness of Your salvation. We realize that we will sin and reject God’s love.
When the Lord’s Prayer says forgive us “as we forgive those who trespass against us” may haunt us, but that is not the intent. God freely forgives our sins. Everyday we sin greatly, and God graciously forgives. You are forgiven. Period. You are forgiven not because you so freely forgive, but because of Christ. As we prayed the Collect we admit that we don’t freely forgive. We struggle with forgiving others. But when we do forgive, we have a confirmation, an assurance that we ourselves are also forgiven by God Himself, since God’s forgiveness is flowing through us to other people. As we can see that forgiveness flowing through us to others, we also see God forgiveness for ourselves, which is our Restoration.
The Psalmist begins and ends our text for today with Psalm 80:7 (ESV) 7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved! God graciously shines His forgives upon us. Another Chance given by Christ. In His name, Amen.
Philippians 4:7 (ESV) 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2nd Petition of the Lord’s Prayer
Issues Etc
1726. Morning Chapel from Kramer Chapel, 6/22/17
Second Petition
What the Kingdom of God isn’t
Not a worldly kingdom
John 18:36 (ESV) 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
But since we are part of this world we often seek God’s Kingdom in this world. We do this by focusing on the improving this world environmentally.
Nothing wrong with taking care of the earth, it is ours to be caretakers of, but that is not God’s Kingdom.
Genesis 1:28–30 (ESV) 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.
We also seek God’s Kingdom in this world by improving society. There is nothing wrong with feeding the hungry, helping the poor, for Christ directs us to help our neighbor, but it is not God’s Kingdom.
Deuteronomy 24:19–22 (ESV) 19 “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. 22 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.
We also seek God’s Kingdom in this world through politics, when we think that certain political ideology will bring about God’s Kingdom. Nothing wrong with good government, actually the government is God’s gift to us, but it is not God’s Kingdom.
Romans 13:1–4 (ESV) 1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
Jesus reminds us that His Kingdom is that of Righteousness, not a worldly kingdom, even though the world is part of God’s Creation.
Colossians 1:16–17 (ESV) 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Paul tells us that God’s Kingdom is of righteousness, that is of Grace.
Romans 14:17 (ESV) 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Matthew what does Jesus say about the kingdom of heaven?
K not just in heave but something that takes place here and noe
It grows like a mustard seed
Leaves the lump
Treasure hidden in a field found and purchased
Way of salvation.
When j dies there was a sign the king of the of Jews
Their remember me when you come into your kingdom
K of go is j reigning over us have purchased us with his blood
How it comes
Strange let me come into your kingdom
But
We pray we cannot come into the kingdom the k must come to us.
Send in the troops
A prayer for freedom sin temptation
Into our lives now though his Word
Weapons not of the flesh
2 Corinthians 10:4–5 (ESV) 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
We pray for The ability to hear God Word which sets up his kingdom
Destroying false belief and setting up true faith.
When Christ comes again he will set up his k not just invisibility but visibility and permanently
Isn’t taking care of this world nor social gospel
Isn’t Christian nation
Is as Mathew notes when Jesus says the Kingdom of God is like….Christ saving activity
Thy
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