Romans chapter 14, the name of
the message is the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God. Turn if you would to Romans chapter
14. Now Paul in this chapter is dealing with the believer
in Christ's attitude with one another in regards to disputes
and disagreements in reference to observance of certain days
and eating of certain foods and conflicts over things that are
not specifically commanded or forbidden in the Scriptures.
That's the setting for this chapter here. Subjects of conflict may
vary today, but the principles laid down here can apply to all,
to all, in all times. And I want us to read this, as
there's a verse in this portion that will be our text, that will
be our text for today. Romans chapter 14, Romans chapter
14, we're starting verse 1. but not to doubtful disputions.
For one believeth that he may eat all things, another who is
weak eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise
him that eateth not, and let him which eateth not judge him
that eateth, for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest
another man's servant? To his own master he standeth
or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up, for
God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above
another, another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully
persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth
it unto the Lord, and he that regardeth not the day to the
Lord, he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the
Lord, and he giveth thanks, and he that eateth not to the Lord,
he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth
to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live,
we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord.
And whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end, Christ both
died and rose and revived, that he might be Lord both of the
dead and the living. But why dost thou judge thy brother?
Or why doest thou set it not for thy brother? For we shall
all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. We see there
in verse 10 that he says, why do you judge your brother? Beloved,
these words are spoken to the man or woman who thinks it's
wrong to eat things prohibited by the law and who still keeps
holy days. He's asked why he takes it upon
himself to judge and condemn the brother who differs from
him. And note the phrase, why do you
set it not your brother? These are words to the strong
in faith. Our Christian liberty, our Christian
liberty is off sometimes to puff us up. Sometimes, sometimes. And the strong in faith, they're
apt sometimes to be puffed up with supposed superior knowledge.
and look down on a weaker brother. But let each believer remember,
let each believer remember that Christ alone is our judge. Christ
alone is our judge. To judge one another and to despise
one another because of differences only reveals a lack of understanding
and love. Let's look at verse 11 and 12
now. For it is written, as I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall
bow to me and every tongue shall confess. So then every one of
us shall give account of himself to God. Well, this is a quote
from Isaiah, and we know from our scriptures that this is also
brought forth in Philippians, where it says, every knee shall
bow and every tongue shall confess, and that's to our Lord Jesus
Christ. He is master over all. So Christ
alone we see here is the master of soul, the soul master and
judge over all, over all. And we see in verse 12 that the
apostle brings forth that also given account unto God, every
individual is answerable to the Lord Jesus Christ, believers
and unbelievers. Now, we're not going to be judged,
though. We're never coming into judgment ever, beloved. Our sins
were judged at Calvary's cross. And Paul's going to bring forth
now that as believers, we're not to make occasion for our
weaker brothers to stumble. There's some things that we feel
like we can do. We have the liberty to do them.
But if you have a brother or sister in Christ, what's being
brought forth here is if you have a brother or sister in Christ
who can't do that, don't do it in front of them. Don't do it
in front of them. You may feel like you have the
liberty to do it, and that's fine. But don't cause your brother
or sister to stumble if you know that they have a weakness in
that area. Don't cause them to stumble. Look at verse 13, let us not
therefore judge one another anymore but judge this rather that no
man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's
way. Don't, don't, don't do something, what's being brought forth here
is don't do something that's going to sear your brother's
conscience or your sister's conscience. So verse 13 again brings forth
that we are not Not to offer ourselves up as critics and judges
of the conduct and lives of other believers. We're not to spend
time finding fault with one another, picking out each other's weaknesses,
because if we do that, we'll find out we all got a lot of
weaknesses. All of us. And not exaggerating differences
of opinions and practice, but rather let us spend our time
endeavoring to help one another. Lift each other up in prayer.
Pray for one another. Avoid doing and saying things
that may cause your brother or sister to stumble. Now we may
have the liberty, we may feel like we have the liberty to do
a certain thing, but if you know it's gonna cause your brother
or sister to stumble, don't do it in front of them. Just don't. Don't do it at all. And we love one another. And
despite differences that may come up, we put them aside, right,
for the furtherance of the gospel. That's why we're here. That's
why we gather together is for the furtherance of the gospel,
isn't it? With that in mind, let's read verses 14 and 16 together. I know and am persuaded by the
Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself, but to him
that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, Now walkest thou
not charitably, destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ
died. Let not your good be evil spoken
of. So Paul brings forth here, and
that this is not his own personal opinion, but he's been taught
by the Lord this truth. That our relationship with God,
our spiritual condition, is not determined by meats and drinks
that we eat. Or don't eat. It's not what goes into the mouth
that defiles a man. It's what comes out that defiles
a man. And remember the setting here.
The Israelites had under the law constraints to certain foods
and certain drinks, right? The Israelites could only eat
certain foods and they could only drink certain foods. And they had observances of certain
days and feasts And the Gentiles would eat meat and drink at certain
times that which was offered up to idols. So with this in mind, let's go
to, let's go to Matthew Chapter 15. Matthew Chapter 15. I'm going to read verses 15 and
16 again in Romans Chapter 14 as you turn in there. But if
thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. You're not walking in love. Destroy
him not with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not your good
be evil spoken of. Look at this in Matthew chapter
15, verses 10 to 20. And he called the multitude and
said unto them, Hear and understand it. Not that which goeth into
the mouth defile the man. but that which cometh out of
the man, this defiled a man. Then came his disciples and said
unto him, knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended after
they heard this saying? Well, yeah, they were offended.
Because they were the ones who said, oh, if you don't do this,
and if you don't do that, and if you don't do this, and if
you do that, and you don't do this, oh, my, all these different
things. All these, and they had even
surpassed the law and added all more traditions of man on top
of things. Yoking people. But we know they
didn't keep them themselves. We know that from scriptures,
right? Look at that. They were offended after they
heard this saying. But he answered and said, every plant which my
heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted up. Let them
alone. They be the blind leaders of
the blind. And if the blind lead the blind,
both shall fall into the ditch. I think of that with false preachers
up there saying people, people, salvation's through their free
will, or salvation's through this or that, or salvation's
through something they do. They're the blind leading the
blind, beloved. I know, because I was there. Then answered Peter, and said
unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are
ye also yet without understanding? Do ye not understand that that
which entereth in the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out
into the drought? The drought. But those things
which proceed out of the mouth come from where? The heart. The heart. I just look back at how I used
to speak and think before the Lord saved me. What used to come
out of this mouth, the foulness of it. Oh my. I woke up this morning singing,
bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me. Bless
his name, right? That would never come out of
my mouth before the Lord saved me. What mercy. what mercy we've
received as God's people. But these things which proceed
out of the mouth come forth from the heart and they defile the
man. For out of the heart proceedeth what? Evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These
are the things which defile a man, but even with unwashing hands
defileth not a man. But even with unwashing hands
defileth not a man. Let's go back to Romans chapter
14 again. We'll read verses 14 to 16 again
with what we just read in mind, with the Master's words in mind. And I'm reading all this section
to get to our text. We're almost there. We're almost
there. Look at verses 14 to 16. I know
and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean
of itself, but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him
it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved
with thy meat, Now walkest thou not charitably, not in love?
Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not
your good be evil spoken of." So Paul's bringing forth here
that if a person eats or drinks or
does what he thinks is forbidden by God, he's sinning against
his own conscience. We need to teach about the liberty
that we have in Christ. That needs to be taught. But
we also need to teach one to never violate their conscience
before God. Not violate your conscience before
God. So Paul brings forth an example of meat offered to idols
is available to you and you see no harm in eating it. You know you have the liberty
to eat that meat. And remember, in the days of
Paul, this happened. There was meat offered to idols.
And Paul says, I can just eat it. It's just meat. But think
of if a brother or sister had come out of... Remember, the
Gentiles were idol worshipers. So think if a brother or sister
had come out of that idol worship, and Paul sits down to have some
meat that was offered to that idol. And there's a brother sitting
there going, oh my goodness. You see, that's the situation
that's happening. So Paul says, if eating that meat will offend
my brother or my sister, I'm not gonna do it. No, not gonna do it. And you
can put that into all different things, can't you? You can put
that into all different things, beloved. Don't destroy the confidence
the brother or sister have in you in their fellowship just
for the sake of appetite. This is what Paul's bringing
forth in these verses. and then let your good not be evil spoken
of. Paul says you can do without
it. You can do without it. And again, remember the context
and remember the times when this is being written. Very important. Let us be free
of pharisaism, and let us rest in the liberty and peace of Christ.
And let us, though, ever be careful to use our liberty in Christ
in such a way that it does not offend our dear brothers and
sisters in Christ. And let it never be that we use
our Christian liberty for occasion for division among the people
of God. Now, let's read verses 17 to 21. Here we go. For the kingdom of God is not
meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Ghost. For he that in these things serveth
Christ is acceptable to God and approved of man. Let us therefore
follow after the things which make for peace, and the things
wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work
of God. Look at that. All things indeed
are pure, but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. Again, if a brother or sister
feel like they can't do it, to them it's an offense. It is good
neither to eat flesh nor to drink wine nor anything whereby thy
brother stumbleth or is offended or made weak. Now, let's read
verses 17 and 18 together. This is our main text right here,
verse 17 really. I want to read it with verse
18. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness
and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things
serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of man. Now
you've heard me say many times that natural man, when we come
out of the womb, we are wired for works. We are, we're wired
for works, beloved. And we grow up and that stuff
naturally appeals to natural man. That I've got to do something
to gain merit and favor with God. Or if I don't do this, well
then God will look upon me in a better way. Right? Religion's real good at doing
that. Religion's real good at that. But we come wired for works. We come out of the womb, what?
Dead in trespasses and sins. That's our natural state. And
natural man thinks there's something they can do. And you see it in
all the religions of the world. The only religion that is true teaches grace and
grace alone. And that's salvation in and through
Christ alone. You look at every other religion,
there's something you got to do. And you can also trace back a
lot of those religions to a man in the grave. But you can't trace
what we believe to a man in the grave because he's risen. He's
in glory. He's in glory, beloved. But man
is always trying to do something to gain merit and favor with
God. They always think that there's something... Number one, they
always think there's someone worse than them. Always. Always think that. They may not
come out and say it, but just listen to them for a little while.
It'll leak out. They think that way. What's a
believer think? I'm the chief of sinners. We
just bow our head, right? Bow our head. We think we're
the chief of sinners. My. And I've noticed this too. And
it's natural for us. Even after we're saved, it's
natural for us. But more so with natural man,
they blame other people for what they've done. Remember Adam? Remember what
Adam said to God? Oh my gosh. He says, it's the
woman he gave me. He's the one who took the fruit,
right? Bit into it. Oh my. Natural man's always trying to
blame someone else for their sins and their actions. And when
I hear someone take ownership of their sin, man, what a blessing. What a blessing, really. Because
that doesn't actually happen. That doesn't naturally happen.
Now believers do that. We own our sin, don't we? We
own it. It grieves us. It grieves us. Natural men and
religious men, think of this too, and think of the people
you know who are in religion. Natural men and even religious
men are prone to cling to externals in religion, in religious worship. They're prone to cling to externals. They really are. Yet we see in verse 17 of our
text that externals in religion in no way contribute to our salvation. Look at verse 17. Look at that. For the kingdom of God is not
meat and drink externals. Look at that. But righteousness
and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Paul is bringing forth that these
externals in no way contribute to our salvation. Do you know that externals in
religion was what man clung to even in the days of Paul? We
see it even today, don't we? We see it today in our day. And
we know it was in the days of Paul because look what he's writing. You know what that tells me?
There's nothing new under the sun, beloved. There's absolutely
nothing new under the sun. Man has not changed. Man has
not changed. Look at this. For the kingdom
of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and
joy in the Holy Ghost. So we see then, for natural man,
when we fell in Adam, we were plunged into spiritual darkness,
weren't we? We were plunged into spiritual darkness. And part
of that darkness, beloved, is thinking we can gain merit and
favor with God by doing certain things and by not doing certain
things. Now there are certain things
that we know we should not do and we avoid, right? We've been
taught that. We've been taught that. This
is not a license for someone to go crazy. Preaching this the
way is not a license for someone to go crazy because the love
of Christ constrains us from sin. But natural man, part of the
darkness of our fallen Adam is that we think we can gain merit
and favor by God. Here's a good example. I don't eat meat on Friday, I
eat fish. Have yourself a great big steak,
it don't matter. Is that not what this verse is
bringing forth? For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink,
but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Oh, but if I, you know, this
is what I do. I came out of that stuff. Praise
be to God. Oh, my. Listen, listen, turn if you would
to First Timothy. Listen to what Timothy writes
here. Look at this, look at this. We know, we know we've been in
the last days since, since our Lord's ascension, right? We know
that. It's the last days, we know that. I'm studying scriptures. We're in the last days. We don't
know when the Lord's coming back. If someone says they know when
the Lord's coming back, they're lying to you. Because no man
knoweth, no man knoweth at all. No man knoweth. Father knows,
but no other man knows. And he's not a man, he's God.
You know, so he knows, but no man. I like what an old preacher
friend said to my. He said, he said, if a man predicts
the Lord's coming back on a certain day, you could you can place
a million dollars that that ain't that ain't going to happen. It's
not going to happen. It's not going to happen on that day.
So but look at this in First Timothy chapter four. Look at
verses one to five. Look at this here. Remember,
Paul's writing to our dear brother, Timothy, And we've been in the
last days since our Savior rose from the grave. And also remember
that there's nothing new under the sun, right? As I said earlier,
there's nothing new under the sun. Look what Paul writes to
Timothy in that time. in that time. Now the Spirit
speaketh expressly that in the latter days some shall depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines
of devils, speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their conscience
seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain
from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving
of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature
of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received
with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the word
of God and prayer. Look at that though. Speaking
lies and hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot
iron. This was happening during Paul's day. Forbidding to marry
and commanding to abstain from meats. Well, you can't eat that
meat right there. You can eat this one. No, not
that one. Again, have yourself a nice big
steak. Don't matter. Eat what you want. The Lord's
given it all to us. Isn't he? He's given it to us. Look at this, forbidden to marry,
commanded to abstain from meats which God hath created. It's
God who's created these meats to be received with thanksgiving
of them which believe and know the truth. Now, there's certain
meats, doctors tell us, well, you can't eat them. Well, you
just avoid them then. But have a different meat if you want.
Have a drink. We drink water, we drink milk,
right? Yeah. Tea. We enjoy that, we enjoy
that. But there were certain folks
back in Paul's day who were saying you couldn't do this and you
couldn't do that. There's still people like that today, beloved.
There's still religious groups out there today, I know. There's
even some that forbid their supposed priest not to marry. There's some who say you shouldn't
eat meat at all. My goodness. Thank the Lord we
have the liberty to eat what we want, don't we? What a great
blessing. And it does not affect our salvation
because the kingdom of God is what? Is not meat and drink. Our salvation is not dependent
on what we eat and drink. Our salvation is dependent upon
the Lord Jesus Christ and him alone. We know, as born-again, blood-washed
saints of God, that there are, again, we know that there are
some things we should not do, and we don't do them. And also,
by God's restraining hand, we don't do them. God keeps us from certain things,
doesn't He? Praise His name. Praise His name. And Paul is
bringing forth in this verse, let's go back to Romans 14, 17
and 18, Paul is bringing forth that the kingdom of God is not
meat and drink, Just as he did, just as the Master did in Matthew
chapter 15, which we saw. That which defiles a man is that
which comes from his mouth, which comes from his heart. proceeds
out of his mouth. So with that in mind, again,
let's read Romans 14, verses 17 and 18. For the kingdom of
God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy
in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth
Christ is acceptable to God and approved of man. So we see clearly
then that meat and drink have nothing to do with eternal life.
Is that not what's brought forth here? It is, isn't it? That's
what's brought forth here. But what has to do with eternal
life? Well, imputed righteousness.
It says here, righteousness. And peace? Well, how do we have peace with
God? Only through the Lord Jesus Christ. and joy in the Holy Ghost. Each one of God's people are
born again by the Holy Spirit of God. So the believer in Christ serves
our great King, and we're clothed in His perfect spotless righteousness.
And it's He who's put a song into our heart, isn't it? Has
he put a song into your heart? Oh, yeah. Praise his mighty name. Worthy is the lamb who was slain
to receive glory and honor and praise and blessing. He's the
one who's redeemed my soul. He's the one who saved me. Wonders
of wonders, we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. And Paul's bringing forth in
verse 17 that the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Christ is
not obtained by by eating certain things and drinking certain things.
Or not eating certain things and not drinking certain things. Though doing those things cannot
bring about divine favor, just see how it just. It clashes with religion. Grace, grace, wondrous grace. What liberty the believer has
in Christ. But we do not use our liberty
as a stumbling block, do we? To our brothers and sisters in
Christ. Not at all. Not at all. But oh, he who the
Son makes free is free indeed, eh? Free. Free in Christ. Turn if you would to Colossians
chapter 1. Colossians chapter 1. The believer in Christ serves
our great King. Clothed in His righteousness. Praising His name. And we have peace with God through
Him. Look what Paul pens over here in Colossians chapter 1. Only God can save us. Only God can deliver us from
the power of darkness, beloved. No one else. We can't even deliver
ourselves. Look at this in Colossians 1,
verses 12 to 14. Giving thanks unto the Father
which hath made us meet. That means qualified us. Qualified us. to be partakers
of the inheritance of life. So what Paul's writing over there
in Romans is he's saying you cannot be qualified or made meat for heaven by what
you eat and what you don't eat and what you drink and what you
don't drink. And he brings forth here in Colossians
that only the Father has made us meat, qualified us in the
Greek, to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints and
light. which hath, or who hath delivered us, it's God who's
done this, He delivered us, we couldn't deliver ourselves, and
we couldn't deliver each other. Who hath delivered us from the
power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear
Son, in whom we have redemption, through Christ, through His blood,
even the forgiveness of sins. Now I'll read our text again.
For the kingdom of God is not in meat, and drink but righteousness
and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Salvation's in Christ,
in Christ alone. Turn, if you would, to Hebrews
chapter 9. Hebrews chapter 9. The grace of God, beloved, let
this sink into us. The grace of God is not found
anywhere outside of Christ. The grace of God comes to the
believer in Christ and what he's done for us. Outside of Christ,
there's no salvation. Don't matter what anyone says
in this world. Every man's a liar. Folks say
all salvation's in this and salvation's in that. The scripture says that
there's no salvation outside of Christ, period. None. What happened to all those people
outside the Ark? They all perished. What happened
to all the people inside the Ark? They were all saved. Christ is
that Ark of Savior. Outside of Him, falls the wrath
of God. I was listening to something
this weekend. My. This man was sitting talking
to someone about sin and he said, one sin, one sin will bring down
the full wrath and justice of God upon a sinner. One sin. Heaven forgiving you, you who believe, all trespasses. Is it any wonder we say, bless
the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me? Oh, bless
His name for this wondrous salvation in Christ. Bless His name. Look at this in Hebrews 9, verses
8-12. The grace of God is not found
anywhere outside of Christ. Listen to what the scriptures
here proclaim. The Holy Ghost, this signifying that the way
into the holiest of all was not yet made, well, as the first
tabernacle was yet standing. which was a figure for the time
then present in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices that
could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining
to the conscience which stood only in meats and
drinks and divers washing and carnal ordinances imposed on
them until the time of reformation verse 11 but Christ being come
and high priest of good things, to come by a greater and more
perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not
of this building, neither by the blood of goats and calves,
but by his own blood." The great substitute dying for
sinners. By his own blood. He entered
in once in the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for
us. And that wrath that was due for
just one of our sins, but oh, we've committed millions of sins,
billions in our lifetime. That wrath that was justly due
His people fell upon Christ, and the sword of God's justice
was plunged into Christ. And He paid it all, beloved.
He cried, it is finished! And he gave up the ghost. And
then he rose from the grave for our justification. For our justification. Oh my. Listen to what Paul writes
in 1 Corinthians 8, verses 8 and 9. He says, but meek commandeth
us not to God. eating certain things that someone
tells you to eat because they say you're going to gain merit
and favor with God, doesn't commend you to God. That's what Paul
wrote in 1 Corinthians 8, verse 8. But meek commend is not to
God, for neither if we eat are we the better, neither if we
eat not are we the worse. But take heed, lest by any means
this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that
are weak. So again, Paul brings forth You have the liberty to
eat that, but again, if you're a brother who came out of idol
worship, who cannot do that, without sinning against his conscience,
then you don't do it in front of him. You have something else. You have something else. So we see then in our text, let's
go back to our text in Romans chapter 14 verse 17 there. We see in our text then that
the message of the Kingdom of God is Christ. What's the message? Who's the
message of the Kingdom of God? Christ. Christ. Because only in Christ does a
believer have righteousness, only in Christ does a believer
have peace with God, and only in Christ Do we have joy in the
Holy Spirit? We're born again by the Holy
Spirit of God. So the message of the kingdom
of God is Christ and Christ alone. Salvations of the Lord is what's
being proclaimed. In this little verse here, what's
being proclaimed is salvations in the Lord. Look at that. For the kingdom of God is not
meat and drink, externals, but righteousness and peace and joy
in the Holy Ghost. Paul is declaring the same message
here as in Romans 8 and 9, that salvation is not of creature
merit, meat or drink, or days or doing, but rather of God's
sovereign grace. Why? So then it is not of him
that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth
mercy." Mercy. It's good for us to know that
salvation is not a works, nor a free will, nor of man's righteousness,
because we could never be saved by those things. Our will is
bound to our nature, our works are tainted with sin, and all
our righteousness before the Lord is like filthy rags. So Paul tells us upon what the
ground of salvation is. Look at the text again. For the
kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but this is what it is. Righteousness and peace and joy
in the Holy Ghost. This, beloved, is the good news
of the gospel. Neither is there salvation in
any other. For there is none other name
under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved. This is the good news of the
gospel, that salvation is in and through Christ alone. Turn,
if you would, to Galatians chapter 4. Galatians chapter 4. Salvation is in Christ and in
Him alone. And we know the Kingdom of God
is based upon justifying righteousness established by the Lord Jesus
Christ. This is the whole message of the Book of Romans. And the
whole Bible is all about Christ and Christ alone who is the sinless,
spotless Lamb of God. It is only He who met and satisfied
the holy demands of God's law and justice for us. Look at this
in Galatians 4, 4 to 6. But when the fullness of time
was come, when God had ordained, when the time that God had ordained
for the great Redeemer to enter into this world. When the fullness of time was
come, God sent forth his son, the word of God. Made of a woman,
made under the law. Why? To redeem them that were under
the law. That's God's people. Oh, that
law, beloved, it had a just claim on us, didn't it? It did. It had a just claim on us. Remember,
just one sin is enough for the full wrath and justice of God
to fall upon us. The Lord Jesus Christ God incarnated
in the flesh came to what? To redeem, to save, to rescue
them that were under the law. That's his people. Why? That
we might receive the adoptions of sons. And because you are
sons, God has sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts
crying, Abba, Father. Bless the Lord, oh my soul. Bless
the Lord. Listen to what the scripture
says in Matthew chapter 6 verses 31 to 33. We know that in the
book of Jeremiah our Lord is called the Lord our righteousness,
right? We know that. Listen to the scriptures in Matthew
chapter 6 verses 31 to 33. Therefore take no thought saying
what shall we eat or what shall we drink or wherewith shall we
be clothed. For after all these things do
the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knoweth
that ye have need of all these things, but seek ye first the
kingdom of God, and His righteousness. Who's the righteousness of God? Christ. Seek ye first Christ. Don't seek the riches of this
world. Don't seek what you can accumulate. Seek you first the
kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be
added unto you. You will be richer than the richest
man in this world. Again, back to our text that
says for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness.
That's Christ, our righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Ghost. Turn, if you would, to Romans chapter 1. We're going
to go through Romans a little bit here. Just a little bit. Romans chapter 1. Listen to what
the scriptures proclaim here in the book of Romans chapter
1. Remember, Christ is our righteousness.
And He is the righteousness of God, beloved. He's the righteousness
of God. Look at this, Romans chapter
1, verses 16 and 17. For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
of Christ. For it is the power of God unto
salvation, and every believer has tasted that the gospel of
Christ is the power of God unto salvation, haven't we? We've
tasted that. To everyone that believeth, to
the Jew first and also to the Greek, for therein, in the gospel
of Christ, is the righteousness of God revealed. Who's that?
Christ. From faith to faith, as it is
written, just shall live by faith. So in the preaching of the gospel,
the righteousness of God is revealed, and that is Christ Jesus our
Lord, the Lord our righteousness, beloved. The Lord our righteousness. Now turn, if you would, to Romans
chapter 5. Romans chapter 5. Verses 19 to 21. And remember, I'll read our text
again. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness
and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans chapter 5, verse
19 to 21. For as by one man's disobedience,
that's Adam, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall
many be made righteous. Moreover, the law entered that
the offense might abound, but where sin abounded, grace did
much more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto
death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal
life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Again, who is the Lord our righteousness. And then in Romans chapter 10,
verse 11, the scriptures declare this. For Christ is the end of
the law for righteousness. is the end of the law of righteousness,
beloved. To everyone that believeth, there's the clause. To everyone
that believeth. So we see that the kingdom of
God is based upon righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
We see that in our text. Our salvation is based upon the
reconciliation, peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5, verse 1 says this,
therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God.
It's something that the believer possesses now. Peace with God,
how? Through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom also we have access by
faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope
of the glory of God. There is no reconciliation with
God outside of Christ. There is no peace with God outside
of Christ. None. None at all. But in Christ, oh my, we have
peace with God. Because our sins were all paid
for, beloved. That wrath that should have fallen upon us is
being appeased. It fell upon Him. Remember, He's like the
great rock in a weary land. We find shelter behind that rock
and think if there was a huge storm blowing and blowing and
you tuck into the cleft of that rock. In those days when you
were a traveler, man, that storm would be raging all around you
and you're safe. You're safe in the cleft of the
rock. You're safe behind that rock. It is taking the full force of
that storm, isn't it? That's what Christ did for his
people. That's what he did for us. The sinless, spotless lamb
of God. That's why 2 Corinthians 5 verses
18 to 21, that's 2 Corinthians 5 is all about reconciliation
with God. It says this, And all things
were of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ,
and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit, that
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing
their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word
of reconciliation, Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as
though God did besiege you by us, we pray you in Christ's state,
be ye reconciled to God, for he hath made him to be sin for
us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness
of God in him." All the sins of God's people were placed upon
Christ, and He bore it all, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God,
beloved. He's like that rock, and we are
tucked in there, beloved. And everything that we deserve
fell on him. And he did not move. He bore
it all. And now, as a result of that,
we are reconciled to God. We have peace with God through
the Lord Jesus Christ. Wonder of wonders. Makes our
soul sing, doesn't it? What a Savior, He did that for
me. Every believer can say, He did that for me. I do not get what I deserve and
neither do you believe. Because what we deserve to receive
from the law and justice of God fell upon Him. What a Savior. What a Redeemer
is Jesus Christ our Lord. And this, this is a completed
work. The mediator, the great substitute died for his people. Now think
of this, no sinner who ever lived can make peace with God by ourselves. Not one person in this room,
not one person in the world, not one person who has ever lived
who is a son or daughter of Adam, can never make peace with God
by our sins. But, the believer in Christ,
sinners saved by grace, have peace with God in and through
the sinless, spotless Lamb of God, who was God incarnate in
the flesh, whom God sent forth at the appointed time to redeem
His people from their sins, to pay everything that God demanded. Having made peace through the
blood of His cross by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself. Let's go back to our text for
one last thing, and then we're done. Salvation is in and through
Christ alone. He is our righteousness. He is
the one we have peace with. And we also see we have joy in
the Holy Ghost. For the Kingdom of God is not
meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Ghost. Salvation in Christ alone is
something that every believer comes to experience and we rejoice
in joy, don't we? We rejoice in the joy of the
Holy Spirit. And it's only because of Christ
and Him crucified that we can enjoy and experience the fruit
of His redeeming work in us, which is the new birth. And then He has us grow in the
grace and knowledge and truth of Him. And we come to love Him
even more, don't we? We come to be in awe even...
Are you more in awe of your salvation than you were when the Lord first
saved you? I am. I know you are too. It's amazing. It's amazing that God has bestowed
His grace upon we who are His people. And this joy in the Holy Ghost
is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts, beloved. It's
the fruit of the Holy Spirit working in us. It's something
we can't muster up. This is a fruit of the Spirit. And believers are among those
which worship God in spirit and truth. And we rejoice in Christ
Jesus, and we have what? Absolutely no confidence in the
flesh, do we? None at all. There is no peace given, no justifying
righteousness imputed, no real joy apart from the Lord Jesus
Christ in Him crucified and exalted. Jesus answered Nicodemus and
said to him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except the man
be born again. He cannot see the kingdom of
God. If you do not know Christ, may
God the Holy Spirit regenerate you and grant you faith to believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, just as he's done for every single
believer. It's a mighty work of God. It's
a miracle of grace. And God's people who have received
this wondrous salvation, my What joy we have. What joy we have,
rotting us by the Holy Spirit of God. Glory to his name. Heavenly
Father, again we thank you for allowing us to gather together
and look into thy word. Oh Lord, we see that the kingdom
of God is not of things external, not of meat and drinks, but oh
Lord, righteousness and peace and joy, which is all wrought
out by you, oh Lord. You are our righteousness, Lord.
You are the one who each believer has peace with God, only in and
through Thee, and it's Thy Holy Spirit, oh, which brings joy
into the heart of the believer amidst all the trials and tribulations
of life. We have the peace that passes
all understanding. We may be rocked by trials and
tribulations which come up in our lives, but, oh Lord, we know. We know who holds our future. We know who who controls all
things, and it is you, my sovereign God of the universe. May you
use this message for your glory and honor and praise in Jesus'
name. Amen.