Compare and Contrast (part 5)

When buying or selling a home, the three most important factors in determining the worth of the property are location, location and location. When studying the word of God as it pertains to the church which is His body, location is always a key factor to pay attention to as we look at the next set of comparison verses.

• Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

COMPARE TO:

• Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

The Kingdom mentioned in the passage from Luke 12 is the same as spoken of in the following passage from Mathew saying....

• Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
• Matthew 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
• Matthew 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
• Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

The earthly, Davidic, Messianic Kingdom on this earth with Christ seated on David's throne with the 12 apostles sitting on twelve thrones judging the Assemblies of God, the Southern Baptist Convention, the Methodist, the Church of Christ, and let's not forget the emergent church which is ravaging so called Christian circles today. Well, if you think the OT books including Mathew, Mark, Luke and John are where you go for doctrine, as the night follows the day, you think Mathew 19:28 would have to include you. The remarkable truth is it is written to Israel and Israel alone as they await their kingdom on this earth.

• Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Even after the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, the apostles concern was about the timing of the restored kingdom to Israel as seen in....

• Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

Well, in short, Jesus told them to hold their pants on because it wasn't for them to know when it was to be given them.

• Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Jesus didn't tell them things concerning the dispensation of the grace of God which was about to be revealed to another man named Saul. It was kept secret. That means he didn't tell anyone. When God keeps a secret, it is indeed a secret. Nobody before the Apostle Paul had any clue about going to heaven, being justified without the law, or that a gentile dog could gain favor with God without the institution of the nation Israel. Paul explains that our blessings today are in heavenly places and not an earthly kingdom. Paul distinguishes the earthly program from the heavenly in passages such as:

• Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
• Philippians 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
• Philippians 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
• Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

How many of your Church of Christ friends have their focus on the kingdom? How about your Baptist buddies? When they speak of the "kingdom" and use terminology about the kingdom and living in the kingdom, what do you think they are referring to? They believe either we are in Israel's earthly kingdom now, or, they are ushering it in. Both scenarios are dreadfully wrong. They draw no distinctions between the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven or the kingdom of His dear son. Philippians 3:17-29 pulls no punches in calling them out as the "enemies of the cross of Christ".

In the OT book of Mathew, Jesus teaches His disciples in what manner to pray focusing on the kingdom being brought down to this earth in :

• Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Israel's focus is on the earthly kingdom. Our focus is not on the earthly kingdom but instead where Christ is seated.

• Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
• Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Things that are different are not the same, they are different. Rightly dividing the word of truth according to Mid Acts Pauline dispensational principals is the key to Biblical understanding.