Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The Lord Jesus declared that
his primary purpose in coming into the world was to bear witness
unto the truth. In bearing witness to this truth,
he declared that he was indeed a king, but one quite unlike
any other king born of men. His kingdom was declared in the
most unusual of circumstances, as he poured out his life's blood
on Calvary's cross, signaling his utter conquest of death,
which was then demonstrated by his resurrection from the dead
three days later, becoming the first fruits of them that sleep.
and having its culmination in final manifestation when death
itself is destroyed in the day of the resurrection of them that
sleep in Jesus. His kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom. This was that which was first
declared in Genesis 3.15 when the Lord said, He shall bruise
thy head to the serpent. It was declared throughout the
Old Testament in all of the prophecies which pointed to the coming Messiah
and the declaration of his gospel. This is no temporary kingdom,
but one which is now begun and shall endure forever. His kingdom
is a constant kingdom. There is no change in it, nor
does his power wax or wane, for he remains a king forever, having
been appointed to this station and declared to be such. He is
not gaining more power nor engaged in further conquest, for he is
seated at the right hand of the father. He is a very present
monarch whoever lives to make intercession for his own. His
kingdom is a mediatorial kingdom. It pleased the Lord to demonstrate
the kingly authority of Jesus Christ in His redemption of sinners. For it is He who came into the
world to save His own people, which were given to Him before
the foundation of the world. It is impossible to rightly understand
the kingdom of God if one is mistaken about the atoning work
of Jesus Christ. For it is here that His kingdom's
glory shines most brightly. To be confused as to those who
are the objects of his redeeming work is to consider a kingdom
without subjects. He is both a redeemer of his
elect and a deliverer of the same. His work in their behalf
is both final and complete. As Paul said, there is therefore
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. His kingdom
is an invisible kingdom. The Lord told the Pharisees,
The kingdom of God cometh not with observation, even though
he went on to tell them that his kingdom was in their very
midst. They had no eyes to see it, being blind. The Lord said,
I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because
thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast
revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in thy sight. Christ fully rules and reigns
in his present kingdom at the present time, accomplishing exactly
what he pleases, though it be largely, if not completely, hidden
from the view of carnal men. In everything that is true, Satan
has devised a counterfeit. He has sowed tares among the
wheat and sent out wolves in sheep's clothing, even as he
has transformed into an angel of light. Here are the indicators
of this true kingdom. The money of his kingdom is not
the filthy lucre of this world. There is no connection between
the carnal money of this present world and the kingdom of God.
The currency of Christ's kingdom is love, and above all things
have fervent charity among yourselves, for charity shall cover the multitude
of sins. We know that we have passed from
death unto life because we love the brethren. The citizens of
his kingdom must be born into it. There are no naturalized
citizens of this kingdom, nor can any man join himself to this
country by his own decision. Jesus answered and said unto
him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God. But as many as received
him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on his name. which were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of
God. The law of his kingdom is not
written on tablets of stone, but on the fleshy tables of the
heart. The law of Moses can do nothing
but minister condemnation to those who are awakened to their
inability to keep it. Those who would press the law
given on Sinai upon the sons of God are ignorant of the true
law of Christ's kingdom, and would seek to bind the freeborn
sons of God with burdens that none can bear. For the law of
the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from
the law of sin and death. The law was our schoolmaster
to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in
part shall be done away. There remaineth therefore a rest
to the people of God. For he that is entered into his
rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from
his. Do you rejoice in the kingdom
of Christ? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at ForThePoor at WinStream.net.