The Kingdom Seminar

What can I do to be in the Kingdom?

                                                                               

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From Last Week

Heaven is God’s dwelling place

Hell is nothing more than the Grave

Death is likened to a sleep

Our hope is to be resurrected to eternal life in the Kingdom of God

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Session Overview

Thus far we have seen:

The Kingdom of God will be on earth.The Nearness of Christ’s returnWhere heaven and hell fit in

The Kingdom sounds awesome! What can I do to be in the Kingdom?

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What Must I Do?

Then they asked him, “What must we Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”do to do the works God requires?”

Jesus answered, “The work of God is Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has this: to believe in the one he has

sent.”sent.”John 6:28-29John 6:28-29

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What Can I Do?

Nothing!It is only through God’s grace that we will be in that Kingdom

So too, at the present time there is a So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.remnant chosen by grace.

(Rom 11:5)(Rom 11:5)

For it is by grace you have been saved, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from through faith and this not from

yourselves, it is the yourselves, it is the gift of Godgift of God -- not by -- not by works, so that no-one can boast.works, so that no-one can boast.

(Eph 2:8-9)(Eph 2:8-9)

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Eternal Life is the Gift of God

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom 6:23

Eternal Life is God’s GIFTNot something we can earn

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Spiritual Balances

Balance between faith and works and understanding

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Faith

What is “Faith”?

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Faith is our Conviction

Now faith is being sure of what we hope Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.for and certain of what we do not see.

(Heb 11:1)(Heb 11:1)

Greek = “pistis” Greek = “pistis” “firm persuasion” “firm persuasion”

a conviction based upon hearing is used in a conviction based upon hearing is used in the NT always of "faith in God or Christ, or the NT always of "faith in God or Christ, or

things spiritual."things spiritual."

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Faith is a Way of Life

According to Hebrews 11, faith was a key element of spiritual life.

In this chapter, the various heroes of the Old Testament are described as living by faith.

Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses

In addition, the Old Testament itself makes the same point.

Abraham "believed in the Lord" (Gen. 15:6)The Israelites "believed" (Ex. 4:31; 14:31)

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Faith is a Personal Commitment

Faith is more than mere intellectual agreement to a truth

“Even demons believe that there is one God.” (James 2:19)

Genuine saving faith is a personal attachment to Christ

Comes from two anglesreliance on Christcommitment to Christ

Faith is also a personal commitment of one's life to following Christ in obedience to His commands:

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.” (1 Tim 1:12)

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Faith is the Bible’s Teachings

Faith can refer to the teachings of the Bible

The faith which was once for all delivered to the saints

“…I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (Jude 3).

“When the Son of Man comes, will he find [the faith] on the earth?”

(Luke 18:8)Gk = teen pistos – THE faith…

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Works

What are “Works”?

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Works of Service

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…”

(Eph 4:11-12)

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do…”

(Eph 2:10)

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Works are to Show God’s Glory

Works to reveal God to those around us, not show how “good” we are…

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven…”

(Matt 5:16)

See your good deedsSee your good deeds

Praise your Father in heavenPraise your Father in heaven

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Works are Faith in Action

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

James 2:14 & 26

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Understanding

Why is Understanding Important?

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Understanding

Gives direction to our faithMotivates our works

U N D E R S T A N D I N GU N D E R S T A N D I N G

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One Hope, One Faith

“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought…”

(1 Cor 1:10)

There is one body and one Spirit; just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism…”

(Eph 4:4-5)

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Understanding THE Gospel

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

(Gal 1:8)

“When the Son of Man comes, will he find [the faith] on the earth?”

(Luke 18:8)Gk = teen pistos – THE faith…

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Sound Doctrine

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths…”

(2 Tim 4:3-4)

“…the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God…”

(1 Tim 1:10-11)

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Misconceptions and Confusion

Jesus – Son of God or Son of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit – Power or person

Pre-existence and the migration of souls

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To Summarize

Faith is our ConvictionFaith is a Way of LifeFaith is a Personal Commitment

Works of ServiceWorks are to Show God’s GloryWorks are Faith in Action

Faith is the Bible’s TeachingsOne Hope, One FaithUnderstanding THE GospelSound DoctrineMisconceptions and Confusion

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How Can I be in the Kingdom?

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.”

(John 3:36)

BELEIFBELEIF

FAITHFAITH WORKSWORKS UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING

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Live a Life Worthy of our Calling

Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:“After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things'

(Acts 15:14-17)

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

(Eph 4:1)