[스크랩] The kingdom of God and the church

The kingdom of God and the church Matthew 16:18-19   We already heard about the kingdom of God, and knew that we already entered the kingdom of God. Therefore we want to live experiencing the kingdom of God. Therefore if we want to live in the kingdom of God, we need to obey God's will and come to the church. Because when we worship God and have fellowship with other members in the church, we can experience the kingdom of God. Therefore the church is very important to experience the kingdom of God. That's why God wants the kingdom of God will be spreaded through the church. This time, we are looking for relation with the church and the kingdom of God.   1. The people of the kingdom of God   God promised to Israel blessing of the kingdom of God. But Israel rejected the kingdom of God which was declared through Jesus Christ. After Israel rejected invitation of the kingdom of God, this invitation was sent to all people of the world personally. Whoever come to Jesus Christ get rest(Matthew 11:28). Jesus said that he came into the world as not political king but as the bread of life, namely one who gives eternal life(John 6:52-57). Spiritual blessing is given to not by unit of family or nation but by personal. Israel also need to personally repent and accept the kingdom of God to receive proper blessing. Someone of Israel only became disciples of Jesus Christ and accepted him as savior. These people were the first members who formed the church.   2. Jesus established his church.   When Jesus asked to his disciples, "Who do you say I am?" Peter confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."(Matthew 16:16). After Jesus heard Peter's confession, for the first time he revealed what his mission is. The purpose that Jesus came into the world is to create new people of the kingdom of God(Matthew 16:18-19).   New people of God is very the church. The church that Jesus said, "I establish my church on this rock" means new people of God(1st Peter 2:9). Now the kingdom of God did not belong to descendants of Abraham. It belongs to all believer who are chosen people instead of Israel. Whoever believed in Jesus as savior become children of Abraham(Galatians 3:7). God made all people who formed his church be a kingdom and priests(Revelation 1:6).   Jesus said to Peter, "You are Peter, I will build my church on this rock." The rock('petra') means the confession of Peter. Jesus will build his church on the confession of Peter. When Jesus said 'my church', Greek 'Eklesia' which means the church was used when Greek Old Testament said Israel as people of God. In here, 'Eklesia'(the church) means those who were called from the world to the kingdom of God. In other words, Jesus promised that he will establish those who accept him as Messiah to new 'Eklesia' instead of Israel who rejected the kingdom of God. Actually Jesus established his church when the Holy Spirit came upon his disciples on Pentecost. The Spirit of God came on those who was born again, and made them unite one with Jesus and become his body namely his church(Acts 2:1-4;4:32; 1Corinthians 12:13).   3. The church and the kingdom of God   Jesus promised to Peter that he will give the key of the kingdom of God(Matthew 16:19). God entrusted the key of knowledge to be able to open door of the kingdom of God to leaders of Israel. This key of knowledge was what God entrusted to leaders of Israel for people of Israel could understand exactly coming of the kingdom of God and blessing promised in the Old Testament. But teachers of the law of Israel never used the key of knowledge(Luke 11:52). Because they misinterpreted the Bible, when Jesus Christ who was prophesied to come by prophets came, they did not accept him as Messiah. So that they could not enter the kingdom of God which Messiah brought, and blocked those who wanted to enter the kingdom of God. This key of knowledge moved from Israel to Apostles and the church.   The key of the kingdom of God means the power to be able to open and close door of blessing of the kingdom of God. Actually Jesus promised to Peter that he will give special power to whom confess rightly in the church. The key of the kingdom of God which Jesus entrusted his disciples became requirement to all church include Apostles for they will be recognized by God and perform their ministry and establish the authority.   The church received the power that they make people enter the kingdom of God through the evangelism. When the gospel of the kingdom of God is declared by the evangelism, those who obey the word of truth and confess their faith will be saved and receive the life of the kingdom of God. But those who betray the gospel and reject confession concerning Jesus will be rejected from the life of the kingdom of God. Even though someone belongs to the church community, if he rejects the confession concerning Jesus, he will be cut off from the kingdom of God. This power was given the Apostles and succeeded pastors who represent the church nowadays. Therefore christians must belong to the church community, and hear and learn the gospel through pastors, and reveal the power of Jesus Christ through evangelism.   4. The church works for the kingdom of God   The kingdom of God is the kingdom which Jesus rules over, and a territory where we can enter to experience blessing of God. Because the kingdom of God already came, if we enter there, we can taste the blessing immediately. Whoever accept good news of the kingdom of God namely gospel will be free from dominion of darkness(2nd Corinthians 4:4), and will be moved to the kingdom of the Son he loves(Colossians 1:13). The kingdom of God which is given to those who accept rule of God will be completed through Jesus in their heart. The church is established by those who have the kingdom of God in their heart, and those who accept the kingdom of God themselves are also the church. The kingdom of God was extended through disciples as like gospel of the kingdom of God was spreaded through Jesus. Likewise nowadays the kingdom of God is extended in the world through the church.   When gospel of the kingdom of God is declared, two things happen. Someone accept Jesus as savior and free themselves from power of darkness and are brought into the kingdom of Son of God(Colossians 1:13). On the contrary, to those who heard gospel but did not accept it, door of the kingdom of God will be closed forever. Jesus gave the key of the kingdom of God to the church. The kingdom of God is tied or untied through the ministry of the church. The kingdom of God is entrusted to those who believed in Jesus, and the rule of God is being completed in their heart, and the kingdom of God extends into the world through the church. The kingdom of God created the church and works in the world through the church. The church is not the kingdom of God, but just apart of the kingdom of God. Therefore it is not that people establish the kingdom of God, but people just declare the kingdom of God. In the Old Testament, the kingdom of God appeared to Israel. In the New Testament, the kingdom of God is working in the world through the church. Therefore the church must appear the kingdom of God.   The kingdom of God began to attack a kingdom of Satan by what Jesus set people free from chain of darkness. From the age of the New Testament, new community was established in the world by the power of the Holy Spirit. This new community is the church. The church is the community to fight spiritual war against Satan. Therefore we need to fight against Satan for life of the church. We who became the people of God need to unionize and fight spiritual war against Satan until the age to come which perfect kingdom of God comes namely Jesus christ comes again. We who are children of the kingdom of God are light and salt of the world(Matthew 5:13-16). We need to declare gospel of the kingdom of God as light and salt for those who are bound to power of Satan will be released. But evangelism is no effect unless we fight spiritual war. After we bind power of Satan by the power of the Holy Spirit, people will accept gospel well.   Gospel must be spreaded to the end of the earth from Jesus Christ ascended to heaven until Jesus comes again. After Jesus came into the world, two thousand years went on. For this term, gospel of the kingdom of God has been spreaded continually to the ends of the earth through the church. God entrusted to complete his purpose of salvation to the church. God declared gospel of the kingdom of God through not the angels but believers. The fact that God works through believers excites us. Nowadays the church is losing influence toward the world. But now it is the time that the church need to be hot by the fire of the Holy Spirit. God entrusted the mission to declare gospel of the kingdom of God to the church that is union of those who believe in Jesus. This is one of the plan of mankind's salvation of God. God entrusted mission to the church because he believed that the church can complete mission. Therefore we must perform mission which God entrusted us. When this mission is completed, Jesus will come again.   Brothers and sisters! This time we heard about relation with the kingdom of God and the church. The church is very important to live experiencing the kingdom of God. We can experience the kingdom of God through worship God and fellowship with other members. Therefore when we come to the church on every Sunday, we need to worship God in spirit and truth. When we worship God in spirit and truth by the power of the Holy Spirit, we realize that God receives our worship and God gives us his grace. At that time we can experience the kingdom of God.

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