But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out "Abba Father. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God made you also an heir (Galatians 4:4-7).
The blessings of the Kingdom of God, now present in Jesus, cannot be contained in rituals, traditions, festivals or even a specific day. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins. (Mark 2:22b).
We meet on Tuesdays to open God's word so that we might fully comprehend the promises of God made available to us in Christ.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The God of the Kingdom
This week was part two of our look at the God of the Kingdom. In Luke 15, we discovered that He is the Seeking God. He was the shepherd searching for the sheep, the woman searching for the coin and the father longing for the prodigal's return. The "good news" about the Kingdom is that God has taken the initiative to seek and save that which was lost.
We also saw that He is the Inviting God. So often the Bible pictures our salvation in terms of a banquet or feast. Table fellowship to the Jewish people represented a most intimate fellowship and as we surveyed scripture we understood more why the Pharisees were so indignant with Jesus when he ate with "tax collectors" and "sinners" (Luke 15:1-2). And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17). The word "call" in Greek is kaleo which means "to invite." This invitation also included an expectation of a favorable response. This was a call to respond to the divine invitation - an invitation which was nothing less than the Kingdom of God (Luke 12:32).
In seeking out sinners and inviting them to submit themselves to His reign, God reveals himself as the Fatherly God. Jesus used the Aramaic word "abba" to address God and also taught His followers to do the same. The word "abba" was taken from children's speech and is something like our "daddy." Abba represents the new relationship of confidence and intimacy that is ours now and forever. Those who know God as Abba Father are those for who the highest good in life is the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:30).
Finally, we looked at the Judging God. God's concern for the lost does not dissipate His divine holiness. For those that reject His offer of the Kingdom must stand under His judgment. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels (Mark 8:38).
We also saw that He is the Inviting God. So often the Bible pictures our salvation in terms of a banquet or feast. Table fellowship to the Jewish people represented a most intimate fellowship and as we surveyed scripture we understood more why the Pharisees were so indignant with Jesus when he ate with "tax collectors" and "sinners" (Luke 15:1-2). And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17). The word "call" in Greek is kaleo which means "to invite." This invitation also included an expectation of a favorable response. This was a call to respond to the divine invitation - an invitation which was nothing less than the Kingdom of God (Luke 12:32).
In seeking out sinners and inviting them to submit themselves to His reign, God reveals himself as the Fatherly God. Jesus used the Aramaic word "abba" to address God and also taught His followers to do the same. The word "abba" was taken from children's speech and is something like our "daddy." Abba represents the new relationship of confidence and intimacy that is ours now and forever. Those who know God as Abba Father are those for who the highest good in life is the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:30).
Finally, we looked at the Judging God. God's concern for the lost does not dissipate His divine holiness. For those that reject His offer of the Kingdom must stand under His judgment. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels (Mark 8:38).