This I Believe Sermon Week 6 - The Kingdom of God

Intro/Welcome

Finishing our This I believe: Foundations of Faith Series

foundations for life

Recap

1. What is the Bible?

2. Who is God?

3. What is the Story of Scripture? (Creation & Fall)

4. Why is Jesus the Center? (Redemption)

5. What is the Church? (Restoration)

The Church is a people created in the image of God, fallen into sin, redeemed by the blood of Jesus, reconciled to God, the Father, regenerated and filled by the Holy Spirit to participate in God’s purpose to restore all things.

6. What is the Kingdom of God? (Restoration)

Intro

The most important thing going on today is the Kingdom of God

We are called to...

Pray for its coming (Matt 6:10)

Seek it above all things (Matt 6:33)

Preach it to all nations (Matt 24:14)

What is the Kingdom of God?

The kingdom of God exists wherever God reigns as King.

The Church is not the Kingdom of God

The Kingdom is not identified with its subjects. They are the people of God’s rule who enter it, live under it, and are governed by it.

The church is the community of the Kingdom but never the Kingdom itself.

Jesus’ disciples belong to the Kingdom as the Kingdom belongs to them; but they are not the Kingdom.

The Kingdom is the rule of God; the church is a society of [people]

- George Eldon Ladd

The Plan

When did the it begin?

What does it look like now/today?

What will it look like in the future/ in the end?

Welcome

Name

welcome in room and online

Connect for BOOKS

Pray

It is your delight to give the kingdom of God

Isaiah 61:1–4 (ESV)

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

When did the Kingdom of God begin?

The Kingdom of God exists wherever/whenever God reigns as King.

The Original Intention of the Kingdom

God’s original intention for Adam and Eve was to bring the Kingdom of God to the whole earth.

The Kingdom of God was God’s original intention for Adam and Eve in Eden

- to fill the whole earth with an Edenic like paradise.

Genesis 1:26 (CSB)

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

Genesis 1:28 (CSB)

28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”

The FALL: of course, because of the Fall that didn’t work out

but a promised rescuer

Genesis 3:15 (CSB)

15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

The Kingdom of Israel

After God establishes the Nation of Israel under Moses and Joshua

God was to be their King

But again the people of God rejected Him as King

This led to the Failure of the Kingdom of God in Israel.

1 Samuel 8:4–8 (CSB)

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”

6 When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand wrong, so he prayed to the Lord. 7 But the Lord told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected me as their king.

8 They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to me, since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning me and worshiping other gods.

The line of Kings would fail

The kingdom would be torn apart after Solomon (931 BC)

and eventually taken into captivity

Northern Kingdom 722 by Assyria

Southern Kingdom 586 BC by the Babylonians

The line of Kings failed, but God promised and everlasting King from the line of David.

This is why the Genealogies in the Gospels point back to David

It’s why the messiah was called the “son of David”

Inaugurated by Jesus 1st Coming

Jesus began his ministry declaring:

Mark 1:15 (CSB)

15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near (at hand). Repent and believe the good news!”

*Matthew uses Kingdom of Heaven = Kingdom of God

Colossians 1:13 (CSB)

13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

Acts 26:18 (CSB)

18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

The Kingdom of God on earth is initiated/inaugurated by Jesus’ 1st coming.

But it the Kingdom of God did not come all at once — in full force

Luke 19:11–13 (CSB)

11 As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem, and they thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away. 12 Therefore he said, “A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then to return. 13 He called ten of his servants, gave them ten minas, and told them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’

Acts 1:6 (CSB)

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

Jesus on the Kingdom (Matt 13)

Rather, when Jesus taught about the Kingdom he said:

1. It would not come all at once (Matt 13:24-30

Matthew 13:24–30 (CSB)

24 He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. 26 When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared.

27 The landowner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Master, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’ 28 “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he told them. “ ‘So, do you want us to go and pull them up?’ the servants asked him.

29 “ ‘No,’ he said. ‘When you pull up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but collect the wheat in my barn.’ ”

2. It would start small and grow large (Matt 13:31-32)

Matthew 13:31–32 (CSB)

31 He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.

32 It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it’s taller than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”

3. It would grow gradually/progressively over time (Matt 13:33)

Matthew 13:33 (CSB)

33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds of flour until all of it was leavened.”

4. Those who find it find great treasure (Matt 13:44-46

Matthew 13:44–46 (CSB)

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46 When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.

5. It would not come in an ‘worldly observable’ way

Luke 17:20–21 (CSB)

20 When he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable; 21 no one will say, ‘See here!’ or ‘There!’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.within you”

Something spiritual — in the heart / the inner person

1 Corinthians 15:50 (CSB)

50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption.

but has observable effects

6. It would be a mixture of wheat and weeds (saved and unsaved) (Matt 13:37-39)

Matthew 13:37–39 (CSB)

37 He replied, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world; and the good seed—these are the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

7. There would be a separation of Judgment at the end of the Age. (Matt 13:47-50)

Matthew 13:47–50 (CSB)

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea. It collected every kind of fish, 48 and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw out the worthless ones. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous, 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This will happen when Jesus returns — The Day of the Lord

It will be fully realized/consummated at his 2nd coming — The Day of the Lord

Revelation 11:15 (CSB)

15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying,

The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.

Matthew 24:30–31 (CSB)

30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

Two comings of Christ

Hebrews 9:26–28 (CSB)

26 ...But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—28 so also Christ,

having been offered once to bear the sins of many,

will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Therefore the Kingdom of God is both ‘already’ and ‘not yet’

The Already-Not Yet Kingdom

We all experience in our own lives:

We are saved from the power of Sin, yet still struggle with it

WWII - D-Day vs. V.E. Day

June 6, 1944 (d-day) to May 8th, 1945

D-Day the troops landed in Normandy, essentially that was the blow that would ultimately defeat Germany, but the ultimate victory didn't come until VE, Victory in Europe Day.

Image of D-day

Image of VE-Day

We live in the already-not yet of the Kingdom of God.

The Baton Handoff

What does it look like today?

In the life and ministry of Jesus we see the Kingdom of God breaking into the present.

it is the future eschatological kingdom reality breaking into the present

Jesus is setting things right, reversing the curse

he heals diseases

he raises the dead

he casts out demons

The life and ministry of Jesus are a preview of what will be fully realized when he comes back.

Revelation 21:3–5 (CSB)

3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:

Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.

5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.”

He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”

This is the great end to which we are all looking and longing for

Jesus’ life was an inbreaking of His future Kingdom into the present

The mission of the Church: Advance the Kingdom

The Kingdom of God began with the coming of Jesus and continues with His Church

Our mission/calling is to advance the Kingdom of God just as Jesus did

as we saw in the Gospel of Mark

Declaring the Kingdom of God through preaching and teaching

Demonstrating the power and presence of the Kingdom by

healings, driving out demons, raising the dead?

but also the transformation of society by the transformation of individual lives and loyalties.

This is how we make disciples.

He established a beach head for the advancement of the Kingdom.

Then he created, called and commissioned the church to advance His Kingdom on Earth.

He told us to:

Pray for its coming (Matt 6:10)

Seek it above all things (Matt 6:33)

Preach it to all nations (Matt 24:14)

Therefore the Kingdom of God looks a lot like the ministry of Jesus.

It begins with the Transformation of individuals that leads to churches

and then to communities and societies.

This is through both miraculous and non-miraculous works

it always begins with the miracle of salvation.

Jesus is both Savior and Lord.

Therefore wherever the true church is we should expect to find the Kingdom of God manifest

But then, if the kingdom of God is advancing as it should, these new believers will also begin to affect the people around them... Soon marriages will be transformed, parent-child relationships will be restored, and entire communities will be changed.

In fact, throughout the history of the church, Christians have been in the vanguard of establishing schools for the training of children and hospitals for caring for the sick.

Certainly the church has failed at times, but listen to how historian Alvin Schmidt discussed Christian influence in history:

the spread of Christianity and Christian influence on government was primarily responsible for many significant and beneficial changes in church history, such as

the outlawing of infanticide, child abandonment in the Roman Empire (in AD 374);23

the abolition of the brutal battles to the death in which thousands of gladiators had died (in 404);

the ending of the cruel punishment of branding the faces of criminals (in 315);25

the institution of prison reforms, such as the segregating of male and female prisoners (by 361);

the discontinuation of the practice of human sacrifice among the Irish, the Prussians, and the Lithuanians, as well as among the Aztec and Mayan Indians;27

the outlawing of pedophilia;

the granting of property rights and other protections to women;29

the banning of polygamy (which is still practiced in some Muslim nations today);

the prohibition of the burning alive of widows in India (in 1829);31

the end of the painful and crippling practice of binding young women’s feet in China (in 1912);

persuading government officials to begin a system of public schools in Germany (in the sixteenth century);33

and advancing the idea of compulsory education of all children in a number of European countries.

Christians have had a decisive influence in opposing and often abolishing slavery in the Roman Empire, Ireland, and most of Europe ....

In England, William Wilberforce, a devout Christian, led the successful effort to abolish the slave trade and then slavery itself throughout the British Empire by 1840.

This is the pattern in Church History

And it is the pattern still today

It begins with the individual spreads to a church

changes communities and transforms societies

Cloe Share

We should expect this in the CHURCH but also in One Hope Church

We want to share those stories where God is at work

Testify to his goodness

Invite Cloe up to share

What it will Look like in the End

The Second Coming

The Kingdom of God will continue to be advanced by the Church until Jesus returns.

The natural question is When will that be?

It’s been 2000 years.

There is a reason Jesus hasn’t come back yet: Mercy

Heaven is not full yet.

The multitude spoken of in Rev 7:9-10

Revelation 7:9–10 (CSB)

9 After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.

They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!

Why the Delay?

2 Peter 3:8–14 (CSB)

8 Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.

11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness 12 as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat.

13 But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

When Jesus comes again

Jesus will come again. and when he does:

Jesus will return suddenly, personally, visibly, bodily

It will be sudden and unexpected (Matt 24:44 )

Matthew 24:44 (CSB)

44 This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

No one knows day or the hour (Matt 24:36-39

Matthew 24:36–39 (CSB)

36 “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son—except the Father alone.

37 As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 38 For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. 39 They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be.

Yet there will be signs

Matthew 24:32–33 (CSB)

32 “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that he is near—at the door.

Labor Pains

Signs:

1. Preaching of the Gospel to All Nations (Matt 24:14

Matthew 24:14 (CSB)

14 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

2. The Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:15–22

Matthew 24:15–22 (CSB)

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place”

(let the reader understand), 16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house, 18 and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. 19 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.

21 For at that time there will be great distress, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again. 22 Unless those days were cut short, no one would be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.

3. False Prophets Working Signs and Wonders (Matt. 24:23–24

Matthew 24:23–24 (CSB)

23 “If anyone tells you then, ‘See, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

4. Signs in the Heavens (Matt. 24:29–30

Matthew 24:29–30 (CSB)

29 “Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

5. An Anti-Christ Figure / Man of Lawlessness (2nd Thess 2:1-10

2 Thessalonians 2:1–10 (CSB)

1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God. 5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I used to tell you about this? 6 And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time.

7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, 8 and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming.

9 The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie, 10 and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing.

They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved.

6. Some kind of Salvation with Israel (Rom 11:25-26

Romans 11:25–26 (CSB)

25 I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited:

A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

THE MAIN POINT: Jesus will return suddenly, personally, visibly, bodily

What will happen then?

The Final Judgment

Revelation 19-20

Revelation 20:11–15 (CSB)

11 Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.

12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life,

and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books.

13 Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works.

14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire

This was not made up to scare people

It was a Vision that John recieved.

It will come to pass.

Judgment by Words and Works

Matthew 12:36-37 (CSB) (Tree and its’ Fruit)

36 I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak.

37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 (CSB)

13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

John 5:45–47 (CSB)

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But if you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe my words?”

Lake of Fire - The Beast, False Prophet, Satan and Demons

Revelation 19:20 (CSB)

20 But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with it the false prophet, who had performed the signs in its presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image with these signs.

Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

Revelation 20:10 (CSB)

10 The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Matthew 25:41 (CSB)

41 “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!

Jesus is the Judge

Matthew 25:31–34 (CSB)

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

2 Timothy 4:1 (CSB)

1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:

Acts 17:30–31 (CSB)

30 “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Matthew 13:37–39 (CSB)

37 He replied, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world; and the good seed—these are the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

Matthew 13:40–43 (CSB)

40 Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin and those guilty of lawlessness. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears listen.

The Eternal State

The Glories of Heaven, the Horrors of Hell

Matthew 25:34 (CSB)

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Matthew 25:41 (CSB)

41 “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!

Matthew 25:46 (CSB)

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Heaven

The reality of the New Heavens and the New Earth will beyond any description we could ever conceive of.

It will be the most glorious existence for all eternally

All that is best and beautiful in this World will be magnified 10,000 x

Heaven ON Earth — Bodily Resurrection

Hell

The reality of Hell will also be beyond any description we could ever conceive of.

It is an eternity without God — the source of all goodness, delight and beauty.

it will be far worse than we can imagine.

If you saw a glimpse of hell, you would never joke about it and NEVER wish anyone to go there.

it was prepared for Satan and Demons (Matt 25)

Isaiah 66:24 (CSB)

24 “As they leave, they will see the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never go out, and they will be a horror to all humanity.”

CS Lewis: Two Kinds of People

There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done”, and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” All that are in hell choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no hell.

Application

The Book of Life

The Book of Life

not of Works, but of the book of life.

This life is as close to hell as you will ever get if you have trusted in Jesus

This life is as close to heaven you will ever get if you have not

Have you trusted in Jesus for salvation?

There is no more important decision in your life

There will be nothing more important than this one min after you die

Are you following Jesus as Lord?

There is no more important task in this life

It is less of a specific task and more of a frame of mind

Colossians 3:1 (CSB)

1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

CS Lewis

“If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. . . . Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.”

Exhortation

Trust in Him today

Let today be that day.

experience transformation

then be a part of helping others experience transformation and new life.

John 3:3 (CSB)

3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Pray

Matthew 6:9–15 (ESV)

Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Extra’s

Daniel 12:1–3 (CSB)

1 At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that time all your people who are found written in the book will escape. 2 Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to disgrace and eternal contempt. 3 Those who have insight will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.