We are in a series called “Sword Sharpening” and looking at how to make the most out of your time with the Bible. This week we are continuing our look at the storyline of the Bible, which we call His Story, and we will look at the seventh section, Acts – Revelation 20, and call it Kingdom Tension.
Last week we talked about Jesus arriving on the scene. He was an example of the ultimate heaven and earth connection (fully God and fully man). He was also an example of tabernacle and temple. We also looked at how He willingly went to the cross to defeat the power of sin, and then He rose on the third day to defeat the power of death. He has inaugurated the Kingdom of God. Remember that the kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God. Not a place.
Mark 1:15 (NIV)
15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
The time is fulfilled. The Kingdom is here. The kingdom is not one that comes and destroys pagans and sets Israel up. The kingdom that comes is one that fulfills the Hebrew scriptures through its representative Jesus to rescue the world.
Genesis 12:2-3 (NIV)
2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Repent and believe…change your way of thinking. Quit trying to do it your way. The good news is that God is setting everything right. He has returned, bringing an Exodus, freeing us from our bondage and slavery to the enemy. He has forgiven us and He will make all things new.
The Kingdom is here, but not fully here. Jesus inaugurated the kingdom when He came the first time. He will consummate it when He returns. We live between in the now and the not yet. The tension of this present age and the age to come. How are we to live in this tension?
Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
We are to live as new creation people. Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to live as new creation people now. The apostle Paul says that we are now the temple (a heaven and earth connection point) because we have Holy Spirit dwelling in us both individually as believers and corporately as the church.
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)
16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
Individually and collectively we are the temple. We’re built on Christ, the cornerstone. And the apostles and the prophets are the foundations, because we’re a temple being built.
Ephesians 2:19-21 (NIV)
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
What does that mean for us as a people and as a church? We are called to carry Jesus everywhere we go. Because just as Jesus, in human form, carried God everywhere He went, we now, because of the Spirit that lives within us, carry Jesus everywhere that we go. Which means that everyone in the church has a purpose. Every single one of us. And our mission is “One More”. We are to be about making Jesus some friends.
Make plans to join us this weekend at Keys Vineyard either in-person or online as we talk more about being salt and light.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
