A Kingdom And Priests

Revelation 1:4-7 - John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

1 Peter 2:4-5 - As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Exodus 19:5-6 - Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Daniel 7:13 - “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

1 Corinthians 1:4-8 - I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Zechariah 12:10 - “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.

Application:

·         Holy priesthood is the whole body of believers. As priests, believers are to (1) reflect the holiness of God and that of their high priest, (2) offer spiritual sacrifices, (3) intercede for man before God and (4) represent God before man. Believers are living stones that make up a spiritual temple in which, as a holy priesthood, they offer up spiritual sacrifices.
·         Israel was to constitute the Lord’s kingdom and, like priests, was to be wholly consecrated to His service.
·         Jesus will come with the clouds of heaven.
·         I am eagerly to wait for the Lord’s return while exercising my spiritual gifts.
·         Israel will one day mourn Jesus.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Witness

Revelation 1:4-6 - John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Isaiah 55:4 - Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.

Revelation 3:14 - “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.

Colossians 1:18 - And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Application:

·         Witness to the people is a reference either to David, who exalted the Lord among the nations, or to David’s Son, the Messiah, who was a light to the nations.

·         Jesus is the true witness.

·         Christ was the first to rise from the dead with a resurrection body. Others who were raised from the dead were raised only to die again.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

All Nations

Romans 16:25-27 - Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Matthew 28:19-20 - Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Application:

·         All nations show the universality of the gospel.

·         Baptizing them is a sign of their union with and commitment to Christ.

·         To God be glory is the ultimate purpose of all things.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Mystery

Romans 16:21-27 - Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you. Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

2 Timothy 2:8-9 - Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!

Ephesians 3:6 - This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

1 Timothy 3:16 - Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

Romans 11:25 - Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 - But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

Application:

·         Christ’s resurrection proclaims His deity, and His descent from David shows His humanity; both truths are basic to the gospel.

·         Heirs together, members together and shares together indicate the unique aspect of the mystery that was not previously known: the equality and mutuality that Gentiles had with Jews in the church, the one body.

·         The mystery? Christ appeared, Christ was vindicated, Christ was seen, Christ was preached, Christ was believed on, Christ was taken up.

·         Paul used the word mystery to refer to something formerly hidden or obscure but now revealed by God for all to know and understand.

·         What God has prepared is probably not to be limited to either present or future blessing; both are involved.

·         The Holy Spirit comprehends the depth of God’s nature and His plans of grace.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Signs And Miracles

Romans 15:18-21 - For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”

2 Corinthians 12:12 - The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.

Hebrews 2:2-4 - For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Application:

·         Signs and miracles were displayed by the apostles unlike the false teachers who had come.

·         The gospel is greater than the law. If disregard for the law brought certain punishment, disregard for the gospel will bring even greater punishment.

·         The apostles were to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth—including Caesarea, Antioch, Asia Minor, Greece and Rome. Judea is the region in which Jerusalem was located.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Goodness

Romans 15:14-21 - I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”

Ephesians 5:7-10 - Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Philippians 3:3-6 - For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Romans 16:25-27 - Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Application:

·         Light is productive, and those who live in God’s light produce the fruit of moral and ethical character, while those who live in darkness do not.

·         Circumcision’s true, inner meaning is realized only in believers, who worship God with genuine spiritual worship and who glory in Christ as their Savior rather than trusting in their own human effort. Everyone is a boaster, either in Christ or in himself.

·         All nations show the universality of the gospel.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

God Of Hope

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:3-5 - And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 4:20 - For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

Romans 5:3-5 - Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Application:

·         The kingdom of God is a matter of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

·         Paul’s point is that unless the Holy Spirit works in a listener’s heart, the wisdom and eloquence of a preacher are ineffective. Paul’s preaching was marked by the convincing demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit.

·         The kingdom of God is not a matter of idle, empty talk; it is the genuine power of the Holy Spirit.

·         My hope is not to be equated with unfounded optimism. My hope is the blessed assurance of my future destiny and is based on God’s love, which is revealed to me by the Holy Spirit and objectively demonstrated to me in the death of Christ.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Root Of Jesse

Romans 15:10-12 - And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”

Psalm 117:1 - Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!

Revelation 5:5 - And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

1 Samuel 16:7 - But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Application:

·         The salvation of Gentiles and the glorifying of God by Gentiles was not a divine afterthought.

·         Jesse was the father of David, and the Messiah was the Son of David.

·         Root of David looks forward to the ideal king in the line of David.

·         The Lord is concerned with man’s inner disposition and character.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

So That The Gentiles May Glorify God

Romans 15:8-9,12 - For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”…And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”

Psalm 9:1 - I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds

Psalm 46:10 - “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Psalm 47:9 - The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!

Application:

·         Jews and Gentiles will come to know the true God and glorify Him for His mercy.

·         The Gentile mission of the early church was a fulfillment of the prophecy seen in Romans 15:12, as is the continuing evangelization of the nations.

·         In his praise the psalmist proclaims to the assembled throng God’s glorious attributes or His righteous deeds. To this is usually added a call to praise, summoning all who hear to take up the praise—to acknowledge and joyfully celebrate God’s glory, His goodness and all His righteous acts. This aspect of praise in the Psalms has rightly been called the Old Testament anticipation of New Testament evangelism.

·         Universal recognition has come through God’s climactic saving act in the birth, life, death, resurrection and glorification of Jesus Christ—yet to be brought to complete fruition at His return.

·         The nations acknowledge the God of Israel to be the Great King—anticipated as the final effect of God’s rule.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Us

Romans 15:4 - For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 4:23-25 - But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Psalm 69:9 - For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

1 Corinthians 10:11 - Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

Application:

·         As Abraham was justified because he believed in a God who brought life from the dead, so we will be justified by believing in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

·         Those who mock God also mock His servant who trusts in Him—as Christ also experienced.

·         Things happened to the Israelites as examples and were written down as warnings for us.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Christ Did Not Please Himself

Romans 14:1,21-15:3 - As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions…It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

1 Thessalonians 5:14 - And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

2 Corinthians 8:9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Psalm 69:9 - For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Philippians 2:5-7 - Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Application:

·         Whose faith is weak was probably Jewish Christians at Rome who were unwilling to give up the observance of certain requirements of the law, such as dietary restrictions and the keeping of the Sabbath and other special days. The Judaizers thought they could put God in their debt by works of righteousness and were trying to force this heretical teaching on the Galatian churches, but the weak Roman Christians did neither.

·         The timid and the weak are to be helped, not rejected, by the strong.

·         The eternal Son, in His incarnation and His atoning death in our place on the cross, emptied Himself of His riches.

·         Those who mock God also mock His servant who trusts in Him—as Christ also experienced.

·         Jesus gave His life to release us from bondage to sin and death.

·         In spite of all that is unique and radically different about the person and work of Christ, I am to have His attitude of self-sacrificing humility and love for others.

·         Made Himself nothing literally means emptied Himself. Another view is that He emptied Himself, not of deity itself, but of its prerogatives—the high position and glory of deity.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Food

Romans 14:14-15,20 - I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died…Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.

Application:

·         Paul recognizes a strong Christian’s right to certain freedoms, but qualifies it with the principle of regard for a weak brother’s scruples.

·         Surely the strong Christian ought to be willing to make adjustments in his own behavior for the sake of weak brothers.

·         Paul is discussing conduct concerning which Christians may legitimately differ. With regard to such matters, decisions should be guided by conscience.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Peace And Edification

Romans 14:18-19 - Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Romans 12:18 - If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Ephesians 4:11-14,29 - And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes…Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Application:

·         Jesus pronounced a blessing on peacemakers, and I am to cultivate peace with everyone to the extent that it depends on me

·         Both concepts—body and building—occurring together emphasize the key idea of growth.

·         The Christian not only stops saying unwholesome things; he also begins to say things that will help build others up.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Kingdom Of God

Romans 14:15-17,20 - For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.

Matthew 3:2 - “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Luke 4:42-43 - And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

Romans 5:1 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Application:

·         Christ so valued the weak brother as to die for him.

·         Paul recognizes a strong Christian’s right to certain freedoms, but qualifies it with the principle of regard for a weak brother’s scruples.

·         To be concerned with such trivial matters as eating and drinking is to miss completely the essence of Christian living.

·         The kingdom of heaven is the rule of God and is both a present reality and a future hope.

·         Different meanings for Kingdom of God in the Bible are: the eternal kingship of God; the presence of the kingdom in the person of Jesus, the King; the approaching spiritual form of the kingdom; the future kingdom.

·         Peace with God is not merely a subjective feeling but primarily an objective status, a new relationship with God: Once we were His enemies, but now we are His friends.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Fully Convinced In His Own Mind

Romans 14:1-6,14 - As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God…I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.

1 Corinthians 10:31 - So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Application:

·         Fellowship among Christians is not to be based on everyone’s agreement on disputable questions. Christians do not agree on all matters pertaining to the Christian life, nor do they need to.

·         Paul is not discussing conduct that in the light of Scripture is clearly sinful, but conduct concerning which Christians may legitimately differ.

·         The motivation behind the actions of both the strong and the weak is to be the same. Both should want to serve the Lord and give thanks for His provision.

·         The all-inclusive principle that governs the discussion is that God should be glorified in everything that is done.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Is Nearly Over; The Day Is Almost Here

Romans 13:12 - The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Philippians 4:5-6 - Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

James 5:9 - Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

1 Peter 4:7 - The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

1 John 2:18 - Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

Application:

·         Is nearly over; the day is almost here is a clear example of the New Testament teaching of the nearness of the end times.

·         The next great event in God’s prophetic schedule is Christ’s return.

·         We have been living in the last days ever since the incarnation of Jesus.

·         Anticipating the end times, particularly Christ’s return, should influence my attitudes, actions and relationships.

·         I am to be alert, waiting for the return of Christ.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV