Post by foxjj on Nov 4, 2022 21:12:21 GMT
Two Opposing Spiritual Kingdoms.
Our world has two spiritual kingdoms which are in competition for the souls of each person. Looking at the evil in our world with its harvest of suffering, it is easy to understand that there is a kingdom of darkness. This kingdom brings with it loneness and suffering with damaged lives. Down through history we can read of the wars that have brought not only bloodshed, but also slavery and poverty. It is a kingdom that offers no hope beyond this life even though within it are those who claim that they serve god, however their lives and doctrines prove to the contrary. Their false teachings keep people in bondage through deception and thereby in the kingdom of darkness. The good news on the other hand, is that there is a Kingdom of Light, which is The Kingdom of God promising peace and hope both in this life, and also in the life to come.
Although the the kingdom of darkness was violently in opposition during the life of Jesus, He came with good news: “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:14-15) During His ministry Jesus described The Kingdom of God and its incredible potential growth when He said: “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.” (Mark 4:30-33)
Just as a mustard seed is small, the teaching of God's Kingdom began small. It was first given by one man in the Galilee, which is a small district, in a small Provence of the Roman empire. His teachings were carried on by His immediate followers and passed down to us as the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel and Kingdom teachings has, by God’s Grace, became world wide whereby people enter into a saving relationship with The One True God. We are blessed today to have free access to The Bible where-in we can read of the life and teachings of Jesus.
For many the good news is explained in the Gospel of John where it reads: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” (John 3:16-21)
The question then is how does one enter The Kingdom of God? Of paramount importance is belief in the Salvation ministry of Jesus Christ as He stated: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”(John 14:6) It was Paul who wrote this explanation: “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile —the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”(Romans 10:9-13)
Today, let us praise The Lord for the Gospel of The Kingdom.
John Joseph Fox.
Our world has two spiritual kingdoms which are in competition for the souls of each person. Looking at the evil in our world with its harvest of suffering, it is easy to understand that there is a kingdom of darkness. This kingdom brings with it loneness and suffering with damaged lives. Down through history we can read of the wars that have brought not only bloodshed, but also slavery and poverty. It is a kingdom that offers no hope beyond this life even though within it are those who claim that they serve god, however their lives and doctrines prove to the contrary. Their false teachings keep people in bondage through deception and thereby in the kingdom of darkness. The good news on the other hand, is that there is a Kingdom of Light, which is The Kingdom of God promising peace and hope both in this life, and also in the life to come.
Although the the kingdom of darkness was violently in opposition during the life of Jesus, He came with good news: “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:14-15) During His ministry Jesus described The Kingdom of God and its incredible potential growth when He said: “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.” (Mark 4:30-33)
Just as a mustard seed is small, the teaching of God's Kingdom began small. It was first given by one man in the Galilee, which is a small district, in a small Provence of the Roman empire. His teachings were carried on by His immediate followers and passed down to us as the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel and Kingdom teachings has, by God’s Grace, became world wide whereby people enter into a saving relationship with The One True God. We are blessed today to have free access to The Bible where-in we can read of the life and teachings of Jesus.
For many the good news is explained in the Gospel of John where it reads: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” (John 3:16-21)
The question then is how does one enter The Kingdom of God? Of paramount importance is belief in the Salvation ministry of Jesus Christ as He stated: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”(John 14:6) It was Paul who wrote this explanation: “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile —the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”(Romans 10:9-13)
Today, let us praise The Lord for the Gospel of The Kingdom.
John Joseph Fox.