The Establishment of The Kingdom
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THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM
I. INTRODUCTION.
A. The Kingdom of God!
1. The mere mention of it stirs the interest of spiritually-minded people, and raises questions in the minds
of the thoughtful.
a. Has the kingdom come?
b. Is its coming still future?
2. There are many errors concerning it which are taught and believed by many sincere people.
a. The nature of the kingdom is misunderstood: millions view the kingdom as an earthly entity.
b. Many believe and teach that the kingdom has not come yet, but that its establishment is soon to
occur.
c. Many believe and teach that the throne of the kingdom will be in Jerusalem. In the past, there
were some who thought it would be in Asia Minor (Montanus taught this—about 160 A.D.), and
others asserted it would be in Munster, Germany (some of the Anabaptists).
B. It is vitally important that we know what the Bible says about the establishment of the kingdom.
1. A proper understanding of the establishment of the kingdom is essential if we are to comprehend the
New Testament and God’s plan of redemption. Millions of sincere folks do not know, and thus misunderstand much of the gospel.
Great Biblical subjects are tied to the kingdom, including the new birth and the Lord’s Supper. If the
kingdom has not come, we have no right to eat the Lord’s Supper or to preach the new birth, for both
of these pertain to the kingdom. John 3:1-8
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
; Luke 22:15-20
Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
2. Prominent, popular religious systems have been built around a misunderstanding of what the Bible
says about the establishment of the kingdom.
II. DISCUSSION.
A. Daniel 2
: King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia had a dream.
1. The dream was so startling and real that the king woke up, but could not recall the details of the
dream. He called his magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers to remind him of what he had seen and
to reveal the meaning thereof.
a. Daniel 2:10: "The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth
that can show the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things
at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean."
b. But God revealed the dream and its meaning to Daniel. "Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in
a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven" (Dan. 2:19).
2. Daniel came to the king with the interpretation. "But there is a God in heaven that revealeth
secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream,
and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these" (Dan. 2:28).
a. In the dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw a great image, very bright and terrible in appearance. Its head
was of fine gold, its breast and arms were of silver, its belly and thighs were of brass, and its legs
of iron and feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
b. A stone smote the image on its feet, breaking it into pieces; the pieces were blown away by the
wind; the stone became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth (Dan. 2:31-35
“You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
3. Daniel gave the meaning of the dream (Dan. 2:31-45
“You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. “This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head of gold. But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
a. The golden head of the image represented Nebuchadnezzar and his great Babylonian Empire:
"Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and
strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the
fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou
art this head of gold" (Dan. 2:37-38
You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head of gold.
b. The breast and arms represented another kingdom which would replace Nebuchadnezzar’s great
empire; it would be inferior to that of Babylonia: "And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth" (Dan. 2:39). The reference to this kingdom is connected to the third, and the descriptive clause
apparently applies to both the second and third kingdoms; that is, both would bear rule over all the
earth.
c. The belly and thighs represented the kingdom which would succeed the second kingdom (Dan.
2:39). This kingdom would bear rule over all the earth.
d. The legs and feet represented a fourth kingdom. This would be a mighty kingdom, inasmuch as
iron breaks other into pieces, but it would be divided: "And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as
iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all
these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters'
clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the
iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part
of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas
thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but
they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay" (Dan. 2:40-43).
4. Having plainly named the first of these four great kingdoms to be that of Babylon, the other three
powers are easily identified from history.
a. Babylon rose to power when it defeated the Assyrians at Nineveh in 612 B.C and the Egyptians
in 606 B.C. at Carchemish. It subdued Judah also in 606 B.C. Babylon fell to the combined armies
of the Medes and Persians in 539 B.C.
b. The Medo-Persian Empire captured Babylon in 539 B.C., taking over its vast empire. They were
in turn conquered by the Grecians in 330 B.C., when Alexander the Great invaded the East.
c. The Grecian Empire prevailed from 330 B.C. until they were overcome by the Romans in 63 B.C.
d. The Roman Empire extended their influence throughout the civilized world, conquering nationafter-nation, subjugating the ancient world to their iron rule.
The Roman Empire as we generally know it fell into ruin about 476 A.D.
5. In connection with this fourth kingdom (the Roman Empire), Daniel uttered his awesome prophecy
of the coming kingdom.
a. Daniel 2:44: "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall
never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces
and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever."
b. God promised to establish his kingdom during the days of the Roman kings. If he was true to his
word, we may confidently look for the beginning of the kingdom during the span of time between
63 B.C. and 476 A.D., a period of 539 years.
B. The Kingdom was at hand during the days of John the Baptizer and Jesus.
1. John’s message prominently featured a promise of the nearness of the kingdom. "In those days came
John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3:1-2).
a. The events of this chapter are separated from the events with which chapter two closed by almost
thirty years; Matthew began this chapter with these words: in those days. Daniel 2:44 had
predicted: “And in the days of these kings....”
c. Daniel had predicted that the kingdom would be established during the time when the Roman
kings were in power; Luke identified the Roman king then on the throne, and named several of the
other great men who were also in power at the time.
2. Jesus began his ministry with the same message as did John. "From that time Jesus began to preach,
and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 4:17).
3. Jesus instructed the twelve to preach the same message when he sent them on the limited commission: "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 10:7).
4. Christ gave this same message to the seventy disciples when he sent them forth to preach: "And heal
the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you" (Luke 10:9).
5. These preachers had the same message: the kingdom was about ready to be established.
How can anyone who respects the integrity of God’s word think that all of these were wrong?
a. Premillennialism teaches that Christ planned to establish an earthly kingdom and reign over it
from a literal throne in Jerusalem, but that the Jews rejected his efforts.
b. The truth is, a powerful group of Jews tried to enthrone Christ on a literal throne, which the Lord
refused. "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make
him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone" (John 6:15).
c. His kingdom was never intended to be a worldly kingdom. "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" (John 18:36).
C. The kingdom was still future
1. Christ taught his disciples to pray for the kingdom to come in Matthew 6:10: "Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."
2. Faithful people were still awaiting the coming of the kingdom in Mark 15:43: "Joseph of Arimathaea,
an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto
Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus."
3. The kingdom had not come by the time of Luke 19:11: "And as they heard these things, he added and
spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God
should immediately appear."
4. It was still future in Luke 22:18: "For Isay unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the
kingdom of God shall come."
5. It had not come by the time of Luke 23:42-43: "And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when
thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be
with me in paradise."
6. It was still future at the time of 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?"
D. Some signs were given by which the appearance of the kingdom could be discerned.
1. Luke 17:20-21: "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should
come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall
they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
a. The appearance of the kingdom was not to be detected by the natural eye. Its coming could be
discerned, but not by physical manifestations.
b. The kingdom of God is within you; that is, it is not a visible, earthly kingdom. This makes it
undeniable that the kingdom of God was not intended to be a worldly or political organization.
c. The Lord made it plain that men were not to look with physical eyes to find his kingdom; the
nature of it was spiritual.
2. Mark 9:1: "And he said unto them, Verily Isay unto you, That there be some of them that stand here,
which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power."
a. The Lord bluntly stated, without reservations, that the kingdom would come within the lifetime
of some of those people who were then living upon earth; it would come before the generation
then living on earth passed on into eternity.
b. He affirmed also that the kingdom would come in company with power. Therefore, we should
look to the establishment of God’s kingdom prior to the passing of that generation, and at the time
when power was demonstrated.
c. Consider these possibilities:
1) Christ was wrong about the promise—it never took place. Obviously, this conclusion is to be
rejected.
2) Christ was right about the promise, but some members of that generation are still living upon
the earth. Clearly, this conclusion is to be rejected; if not, where are these old men?
3) Christ was right about the promise—the kingdom came with power before that generation left
the earth by dying. This conclusion demonstratively is the only correct view.
3. Luke 24:47-49: "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among
all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the
promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power
from on high."
a. The apostles were to remain in Jerusalem until theywere “endued” (clothed) with power from “on
high” (heaven). At that time, repentance and remission of sins would be preached in the Lord’s
name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
b. The promise that had originated with God would be given to them from heaven while they abode
in Jerusalem.
c. If we can identify the occasion when the apostles were given this power, we will have identified
the time when the kingdom was established.
4. Acts 1:5-8: "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not
many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou
at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 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.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."
a. Christ was speaking to his apostles in this passage; he promised that they would receive the
“baptism of the Holy Ghost” in the very near future.
b. He promised that the apostles would “receive power” when the Holy Spirit came upon them. The
baptism of the Holy Spirit and their reception of power would be simultaneous.
5. Tying Acts 1:5-8 to Mark 9:1 and Luke 24:47-49, we learn that the kingdom was to come when the
apostles received the power with which the Holy Spirit would clothe them. If we can determine when
the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, giving them the power indicated, we will discover the
beginning of the kingdom. The kingdom came when all of these factors were present.
E. God was true to his promises.
1. He had promised to set up the kingdom after the ascension of Christ.
a. Daniel 7:13-14: "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. 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."
b. We are given a view of the Lord’s ascension from earth in Acts 1:9-11: "And when he had spoken
these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And
while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white
apparel;Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus,
which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into
heaven."
c. We are given a prophetic picture of Christ’s return to heaven following his successful mission to
earth, in Psalms 24:7-10: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the
LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and
the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of
glory.”
d. Daniel 7:13-14 states plainly that the Messiah received the kingdom after his return to heaven;
this is another key to identifying the time the kingdom was established.
e. A three-part picture is given to us of the Lord’s ascension.
1) Acts 1:9-11 gives the view of his departure from earth.
2) Psalm 24:7-10 describes his return to heaven, where the mighty gates were opened to him.
3) Daniel 7:13-14 shows his return to the Father, who gave him the kingdom.
2. The Holy Spirit gave power to the apostles on the Pentecost Day of Acts 2.
a. Acts 2:1-4: "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one
place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all
the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire,
and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak
with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
b. Acts 2:29-36: "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is
both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and
knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the
flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection
of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God
raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and
having received of the Father the promise of the HolyGhost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now
see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto
myLord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house
of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord
and Christ."
c. 1 Corinthians 4:20: "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." The kingdom of God
does not rest on words only, but on miraculous power! The miracles that were wrought in the first
century proved that point. It came in close connection with supernatural demonstrations, proving
to those who witnessed them (and to those today who read of them) that the kingdom of God is
now with men.
3. Penitent believers who were baptized were added by the Lord to his church for the first time on the
Pentecost Day of Acts 2.
a. Acts 2:41,47: "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same daythere were
added unto them about three thousand souls....And the Lord added to the church daily such as
should be saved." To be added to the Lord is to be added to the church, for the church is the body
of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18).
b. When Christ promised to build his church, he described this institution as the church and the
kingdom, using the terms interchangeably shows that they are identical. "And Isay 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. 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" (Matt. 16:18-19).
c. When Christ built his church, he established his kingdom. He used the apostles to fulfill this
promise.
d. He gave Peter (and the rest of the apostles) the keys to the kingdom; they used these keys to open
the church (Matt. 16:18-19).
1) Matthew 18:18: "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
2) Matthew 19:28: "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have
followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye
also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
e. To be added to the church is identical to be translated into the kingdom. "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 his blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1:13-14).
4. Prior to the time of Acts 2, the kingdom was still future; after Acts 2, the kingdom is spoken of as
being present.
a. Revelation 1:9: "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the
kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God,
and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." [Revelation was written about 96 A.D.].
b. Revelation 1:6: “And he made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto his God and Father; to him
be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (ASV).
c. Hebrews 12:28: "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace,
whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." [Hebrews was written
about 63 A.D.].
d. Colossians 1:13: "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into
the kingdom of his dear Son." [Colossians was written about 62 A.D.].
F. The importance of the kingdom.
1. Those who are purified are in the kingdom, which is entered by the new birth.
a. 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."
b. 1 Peter 1:22-23: "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto
unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born
again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth
for ever."
c. We must be pure (holy) before we can be in God’s presence in heaven.
1) Matthew 5:8: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
2) Hebrews 12:14: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the
Lord."
3) Revelation 21:27: "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither
whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's
book of life."
2. Those who are redeemed are in the kingdom.
a. Colossians 1:13-14: "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 his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins."
b. To be redeemed is to be forgiven of our sins.
3. Those in the kingdom have the privilege of worshiping and serving God. "Wherefore we receiving a
kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with
reverence and godly fear" (Heb. 12:28).
4. The kingdom will be taken to heaven at the second coming of Christ.
a. I Corinthians 15:24: "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God,
even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power."
b. 2 Peter 1:11: "For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
c. Matthew 25:34: "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
III. CONCLUSION.
A. Are you a citizen in God’s kingdom?
1. You must be born again to enter the kingdom: "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, Isay unto thee, Except
a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).
2. To be born again is simply to obey the gospel.
a. Mark 16:15-16: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned."
b. Acts 2:38: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
c. 1 Peter 1:22-25: "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto
unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born
again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth
for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass
withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And
this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."
B. Can you give a logical reason why you do not:
1. Obey the gospel now, if you need to do so?
2. Return to the Savior if you have obeyed the gospel but have fallen away?