Kingdom Inheritance

Psalm 130 / Ephesians 5:1-5

Therefore…

Ch2 - The course of this world

Ch 4 - the downward spiral of self-idolatry and darkened understanding and futility of mind

Ch4 - Separated from the life of God

Ephesians 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

Romans 8:7–8 “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:9 “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”

Can you handle this truth?

If you are truly a child of God, then He not only wills this for you, but enables you to do so.

If you are unsaved, it will be impossible for you to follow, but stay tuned because there is good news!

The Love of God in Christ

Romans 8:37–39 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Who is the Us? Who alone is promised this?

Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Cain’s Sacrifice -> cursing, alienation, murder, and death

Abel’s Sacrifice -> Noah Gen 8:20 -> Abraham/Isaac Gen 22 -> Jesus Matthew 27 -> Rev 5 The lamb found worthy to break the seals and unroll the scroll

It is only the perfect self-sacrifice of Christ Jesus that appeases the righteous indignation of a Holy and Just God, that breaks the power of the curse of sin, that takes away the power and sting of death.

The eternal security of every believer is secure solely on the basis of the perfections and sacrifice of Jesus.

THIS is the motivation for our behavior. It is not about us, but about HIM!

Oh, that we may SEE Him today! That we may have as high and humbling a vision of our Lord and Savior as Isaiah did in Isaiah 6. God help that our own souls would quake as did the foundations of that house at the mention of the Holiness of Christ Jesus!

Kingdom Inheritance

Luke 12:22 “22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.”

Luke 12:32 “32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Christians are too easily blinded to the fact that we are in a different place; while we are still here, we are most truly in the Kingdom of God. This reality doesn’t sink into our consciousness enough or else we would realize that many things about our lives simply don’t belong here.

Ephesians 5:3 “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.”

Vice Lists: Here in Eph 5, also 1 Cor 6:9-11, and Gal 5:19-21

Ephesians 5:5 “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”

Revelation 21:27 “ But nothing unclean will ever enter [New Jerusalem], nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Ephesians 5:8 “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”

I want everyone of us, now and as a practice: Stop and look at our own lives.

If we say we are born again, yet regularly act in ways that don’t belong in God’s Kingdom… there is something wrong. It’s not a matter of, “well, I’m not that,” but a matter of “what AM I doing?”

In fact, if like in verse 4 our lives aren’t marked by holiness and thankfulness, there is a problem in our hearts.

If you are not born again, I have no offer of hope or help to you apart from this: The perfection, love, and mercy of Jesus inviting you to trust in Him. God stands ready to gift the Kingdom to everyone coming to Jesus in faith.

What if you’re the one who has never professed being saved, but as I preach and as you think about the message given in scropture, you begin to realize you hate the things God says to hate. You love the Lord and His Word. You find comfort rather than guilt in the gospel of Jesus.

If that is describes you, ask yourself how that can be. Better yet, ask God how that can be,

Church Family, Let us everyone strive to be imitators of God. Let us everyone strive to live like we are children of God living IN His Kingdom because that’s who we are, and where we are.