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The Kingdom, At Hand
March 05, 2017
John the baptizer, followed by Jesus Himself, preached that the kingdom of God -- the kingdom of heaven -- was at hand. At hand implies close by, within reach. The old prophecies foretold of the establishment of eternal kingdom, and in the book of Daniel the time of this event was given. It was when Jesus Christ came to die for us. This happened while Christ was here, and is not some future event, as some erroneously teach and believe. - Bernie Parsons
The Kingdom, At Hand
a sermon by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 03-05-2017
Presented to Load church of Christ on 03-12-2017
In the last lesson, I pointed out that there were two clues to the
simple message of Jesus.
Matthew 4:17 "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent:
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
The second part is that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. This message
was a familiar one to the Jews, and news that it was at hand was
exciting.
Daniel 7:13 "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son
of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days,
and they brought him near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all
people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an
everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that
which shall not be destroyed."
Jeremiah 33:17 "For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to
sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;"
This sheds light upon the importance of the angelic announcement to
Mary, mother of Jesus.
Luke 1:30 "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast
found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,
and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and
the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his
kingdom there shall be no end."
John and Jesus preached that the eternal kingdom was close enough to
touch – it was at hand.
Matthew 12:28 "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the
kingdom of God is come unto you."
Jesus declared that some listening to Him would see him coming in the
kingdom.
Matthew 16:27 "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father
with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his
works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not
taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."
The apostles had the keys to the kingdom.
Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon
this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Jesus described entry into the kingdom. First, one must be
born again of water and the Spirit.
John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man
be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God."
The rebirth produces a spiritual child who must learn to live within the
kingdom.
Matthew 18:1 "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying,
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of
them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as
little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the
same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus told Governor Pilate that His kingdom was not of this
world.
John 18:36 "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world:
if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I
should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from
hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered,
Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause
came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every
one that is of the truth heareth my voice."
Flesh and blood bodies cannot inherit the kingdom.
1 Corinthians 15:49 "And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we
shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption."
The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom.
1 Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit
the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters,
nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified,
but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of
our God."
The disciples wondered about the promised eternal kingship.
Acts 1:6 "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him,
saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to
Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the
seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
The holy martyr Stephen saw Jesus at the right hand of God.
Acts 7:55 "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly
into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right
hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man
standing on the right hand of God."
Jesus was put in charge of all spiritual things, becoming the ultimate
power over the called out.
Ephesians 1:19 "And what is the exceeding greatness of his
power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty
power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set
him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and
every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which
is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head
over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."
Peter spoke of Jesus sitting at that time as one who ruled angels,
authorities and powers.
1 Peter 3:21 "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save
us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a
good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and
authorities and powers being made subject unto him."
1 Corinthians 15:27 "For he hath put all things under his feet. But when
he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is
excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son
also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God
may be all in all."
