OceanSide church of Christ
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WHAT WE’VE
BECOME:
Citizens of Christ’s
Kingdom
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
When the Jews brought Jesus
to Pilate, the accusation they made against Him was that He claimed to be a king
(Luke 23:2).
And they began
to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and
forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a
king.
1.
Such an accusation would
have troubled Pilate as an agent of
2.
Pilate, therefore,
questioned Jesus about this matter (John 18:33).
Then Pilate
entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art
thou king of the Jews?
B.
Jesus did not deny that He
was a king. He did, however, reveal
the nature of His kingdom to the governor (John 18:36).
Jesus answered,
My kingdom is not of this world: if
my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be
delivered to the Jews: but now is
my kingdom not from hence.
1.
The Jews did not understand
the nature of the kingdom. They
thought that it was a physical kingdom, not a spiritual
kingdom.
2.
Sadly, many still
misunderstand Christ’s kingdom. The
premillennialists are still looking for an earthly
kingdom.
3.
Such a kingdom will never
come. Jesus said: My kingdom is
not of this world.
C.
Dear listeners, the
1.
It was prophesied by Daniel
that it would be established in the days of the Roman kings (Dan.
2:44).
2.
Jesus said that it would
come with power during the lives of those who lived in the first century (Mark
9:1).
3.
The power came on Pentecost
day following our Lord’s resurrection (Acts 2:1-4). That day, the church, the
4.
The Father has been adding
the saved to it ever since that day (Col. 1:13).
Who hath
delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom
of his dear Son.
D.
Every child of God is,
therefore, a citizen of Christ’s kingdom.
1.
As citizens, we have
obligations and responsibilities.
2.
In this lesson, we want to
examine what these duties involve.
I. HONOR
THE KING
A.
I
Peter 2:17
Honor all
men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
1.
Definition.
a.
Strong: to prize, to revere,
to value.
b.
Thayer: to value, to revere,
venerate.
2.
Honor, therefore, begins with a disposition of heart. It involves one’s regard and love for
that which is honored (EX: George
Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and Margaret
Thatcher).
3.
Honor is then manifested in both words and deeds toward the one
honored.
B.
In our kingdom, Jesus Christ
the Son of God is the King (I Tim. 6:15).
Which in his
times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate the King of kings,
and Lord of lords
C.
Among His people, His
citizens, the King is to be honored, adored, venerated, esteemed, and highly
prized.
1.
Question: How do you “feel” about the
Christ?
2.
Many times in Paul’s
writings, he could not mention the name of Jesus without going into a lengthy
description of Him (i.e., Col. 1:14-20 lists at least 10 things about Jesus
after Paul mentions His name).
3.
Our honoring the Christ will
then be expressed in our words and actions toward Him.
a.
Do you talk about the King?
Do others hear the respect you have for Him in your
voice?
b.
Do your actions show that you prize him dearly? Would the King be pleased by the honor
you show Him?
II. OBEY THE
LAWS
A.
I
Peter 2:13-14
Submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil
doers, and for the praise of them that do well.
B.
Just as each physical nation
has laws, likewise the
1.
The law of faith (Rom.
3:27).
2.
The law of the Spirit of
life (
3.
The law to Christ (I Cor.
9:21).
4.
The law of liberty (James
2:12).
C.
This law of Christ is to be
obeyed by the citizens of the kingdom (James 1:25).
But whoso
looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a
forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his
deed.
D.
We should remember that
these laws are not evil, but are for our good.
1.
They provide
order.
2.
They promote the welfare of
the kingdom.
3.
They protect the
innocent.
4.
They render assistance to
the needy and downtrodden.
E.
It is amazing how many
citizens of the Lord’s kingdom take His laws for granted.
1.
Two types of
violations.
a.
Transgressions (I John 3:4).
b.
Omissions (James 4:17).
2.
Our sin seems to be rooted in pride, doubt, fear, and
self-centeredness.
3.
This is very troublesome because judgment will have as its standard, the
law of Christ (John 12:48).
He that
rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same
shall judge him in the last day.
III. EAGERLY AWAIT OUR
KING’S RETURN
A.
At this present time, our
King has taken a journey into a far country (Matt. 25:14).
B.
He has left us to do His
work while He is away.
C.
He has promised to return
(John 14:3). When He does, He will
reckon with His servants (Matt. 25:19).
D.
We do not know when He is
going to return (Matt. 24:36). Our
responsibility is to be prepared for His return (Matt.
25:1-30).
1.
We are to watch (Matt.
24:42).
2.
We are to always be doing
(Matt. 24:46).
3.
We are to use our talents in
the Lord’s service (Matt. 25:14-30).
4.
We are to seek out others
and serve them (Matt. 25:31-46).
E.
How sad it would be if we
were not ready when the King returns (Matt. 25:10-12).
And while they
went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to
the marriage: and the door was
shut. Afterwards came also the
other virgins, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say
unto you, I know you not.
CONCLUSION
A.
The Lord’s kingdom is
presently on earth as the church.
However, this is not it ultimate resting spot.
B.
The Lord will come for the
church (Eph. 5:27), and He will ultimately deliver it unto the Father (I Cor.
15:24). There, it will eternally
abide in heaven.
C.
It is for this reason that
Paul wrote as he did in Philippians 3:20.
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.