Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Tuesday, 28 March 2023 10:28

Kingdom living (part three)
In the past two articles, we have taken a closer look at what it means to be citizens in God’s Kingdom from the perspective of prophecy and fulfillment. When Jesus ushered in His eternal Kingdom on the first day of Pentecost after His ascension to the Father, the whole religious order of things changed. Christ now reigns as King and Priest, something that was impossible under the Law of Moses. We as His subjects are to submit ourselves in an everyday practical way that we will briefly explore.
Kingdom Living is a Life of Daily Living As A New Creation. One can only walk as a Christian if he or she rises out of the watery grave of baptism to a daily walk in the newness of life: Romans 6:4-5 (KJV) 4 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”

The Apostle Paul describes it this way: 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) 17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” This new creature embarks on a life long journey of daily renewal…

The inner man is to be renewed daily – 2 Corinthians 4:16 (KJV) 16 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

This renewal is ongoing, involving the renewal of one’s mind – Romans 12:2 (KJV) 2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Kingdom living is A Life Spent Glorifying God– 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 19 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” The Apostle Paul challenged their thinking by asking “Do you not know…you are not your own?” The Christian needs to understand that he or she has been “Bought with a Price” and consequently is a person “Belonging To The Lord.”

We must recognize that Kingdom Living involves A Life of Faithfulness Christians are now God’s own special people. Note how Peter describes them in 1 Peter 2:9-10 ( KJV ) 9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

We are a special people, with special responsibilities. He likens us to “A Chosen Generation;” “A Royal Priesthood;” “A Holy Nation;” and “His Own Special People.” We live to proclaim the Praises of God. The question we must answer, each one of us personally, is “As Kingdom subjects, are we living and conducting ourselves as those who “belong to the Lord”? Are we acting like a special people? Do we live like a child of God should? Is our life truly a sojourn, or are we living like we want to make this earth our permanent home?” May the significance of belonging to God prompt us to always glorify God in our bodies and our spirits!

The author can be reached for comments at 256.574.2489.

-Terry Broome