DAILY STUDY & TRAINING FOR REFRESH TEAM:
LIVING AS KINGDOM CITIZENS: MATT 5 TO 7
When we became Christians we became citizens of the Kingdom of God. We placed ourselves back under God’s authority expressed in the person of Jesus Christ. Matt 28:18. Does that mean we are under a law or “the law” as in the Old Testament Ten Commandments? No, not in the sense of having to keep it to earn a good relationship with God, nor in the sense that by keeping it we earn our right to heaven. We have though Jesus Christ received the wonderful and loving forgiveness of our Heavenly Father. There is however in the Kingdom an even greater challenge to change than ever presented itself in the OT external observation of the law. Jesus fulfilled the law in every way and thus lived in the complete freedom and peace that the law was designed to bring about. We now as citizens of the Kingdom out of a response to the amazing love we have received from Jesus, want to follow His example. We willingly submit to Jesus’ teaching, we want to obey His commands. Indeed it is a helpful test for us to know how real our faith is and our understanding of our Salvation that we naturally want to follow and obey Jesus.
The Sermon on the Mount in Matt 5 to 7 has often been called the manifesto of the Kingdom. We want, in our daily study for Refresh team, over the next few months, to look at the concepts of this Kingdom and look at what Bob Mumford calls the bye laws of the Kingdom.
THE KINGDOM, WHAT - WHERE – WHEN
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is ........ righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
Luke 12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
Luke 17 :21 nor will people say, `Here it is,' or `There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."
Matt 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
